Abstract
Effects of $CO_2$ partial pressure($pCO_2$) on the characteristics of methane production rate and organic matter degradation in anaerobic digestion were investigated by using anaerobic chemostat type reactors at $35{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, at the HRT of 7days. The $pCO_2$ of the reactors was controlled in the range from 0.1 to 0.8 atm. Since the $pCO_2$ in an uncontrolled condition was about 0.4atm, $N_2$ was added for the reactors controlled of $pCO_2$ of between 0.1 and 0.4atm. At $pCO_2$ of 0.5 atm, the methane production rate was approximately 20% more that in an uncontrolled condition of $pCO_2$. Based on the carbon mass balance, it was concluded that methane production was related to the increment of removal organic carbon and consumption of $CO_2$. At $pCO_2$ of 0.5atm, the methane production by the increment of removal substrates increased 13.6%, on the orther hand, hand, the methane production by the conversion of $CO_2$ to methane increased 6.4%.