A methodology for optimising feed composition for anaerobic co-digestion of agro-industrial wastes.
An optimisation protocol for maximising methane production by anaerobic co-digestion of several wastes was carried out. A linear programming method was utilised to set up different blends aimed at maximising the total substrate biodegradation potential (L CH(4)/kg substrate) or the biokinetic potential (L CH(4)/kg substrate d). In order to validate the process, three agro-industrial wastes were considered: pig manure, tuna fish waste and biodiesel waste, and the results obtained were validated by experimental studies in discontinuous assays. The highest biodegradation potential (321 L CH(4)/kg COD) was reached with a mixture composed of 84% pig manure, 5% fish waste and 11% biodiesel waste, while the highest methane production rate (16.4 L CH(4)/kg COD d) was obtained by a mixture containing 88% pig manure, 4% fish waste and 8% biodiesel waste. Linear programming was proved to be a powerful, useful and easy-to-use tool to estimate methane production in co-digestion units where different substrates can be fed.
Alvarez
J A
JA
Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Lope Gómez de Marzoa, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. juanantonio.alvarez@usc.es
Otero
L
L
Lema
J M
JM
D000383:Agriculture; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D005399:Fishes; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D007700:Kinetics; D008372:Manure / Q000032:analysis; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D034421:Sus scrofa
D056804:Biofuels; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008372:Manure; D008697:Methane