title: Optimization of solid content, carbon/nitrogen ratio and food/inoculum ratio for biogas production from food waste.
abstract: Biogas production from food waste has been used as an efficient waste treatment option for years. The methane yields from decomposition of waste are, however, highly variable under different operating conditions. In this study, a statistical experimental design method (Taguchi OA9) was implemented to investigate the effects of simultaneous variations of three parameters on methane production. The parameters investigated were solid content (SC), carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N) and food/inoculum ratio (F/I). Two sets of experiments were conducted with nine anaerobic reactors operating under different conditions. Optimum conditions were determined using statistical analysis, such as analysis of variance (ANOVA). A confirmation experiment was carried out at optimum conditions to investigate the validity of the results. Statistical analysis showed that SC was the most important parameter for methane production with a 45% contribution, followed by F/I ratio with a 35% contribution. The optimum methane yield of 151 l kg-1volatile solids (VS) was achieved after 24 days of digestion when SC was 4%, C/N was 28 and F/I were 0.3. The confirmation experiment provided a methane yield of 167 l kg-1VS after 24 days. The analysis showed biogas production from food waste may be increased by optimization of operating conditions.
authors.affiliation: Erciyes University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Kayseri 38039, Turkey fdadaser@erciyes.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dadaser-Celik
authors.affiliation: Erciyes University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Kayseri 38039, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sukru Taner
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Azgin
authors.affiliation: Erciyes University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Kayseri 38039, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yalcin Sevki
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yildiz
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D005502:Food; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods; D014421:Turkey; D014866:Waste Products
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D014866:Waste Products; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D008697:Methane
keywords: Food waste; Taguchi methods; anaerobic digestion; methane potential; optimization