Multi-Parametric Analysis Based on Physico-Chemical Characterization and Biochemical Methane Potential Estimation for the Selection of Industrial Wastes as Co-Substrates in Anaerobic Digestion

Luz Marina Ruiz (), María Fernández, Ana Genaro, Jaime Martín-Pascual and Montserrat Zamorano ()
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Luz Marina Ruiz: Environmental Technologies, Civil Engineering Department, E.T.S.I. Caminos, Canales y Puertos, University of Granada, Dr. Severo Ochoa St., 18071 Granada, Spain
María Fernández: Environmental Technologies, Civil Engineering Department, E.T.S.I. Caminos, Canales y Puertos, University of Granada, Dr. Severo Ochoa St., 18071 Granada, Spain
Ana Genaro: Empresa Municipal de Abastecimiento y Saneamiento de Granada S.A., Molinos St., 58-60, 18009 Granada, Spain
Jaime Martín-Pascual: Environmental Technologies, Civil Engineering Department, E.T.S.I. Caminos, Canales y Puertos, University of Granada, Dr. Severo Ochoa St., 18071 Granada, Spain
Montserrat Zamorano: Environmental Technologies, Civil Engineering Department, E.T.S.I. Caminos, Canales y Puertos, University of Granada, Dr. Severo Ochoa St., 18071 Granada, Spain

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion is considered as one of the most feasible waste-to-energy technologies for the valorization of organic wastes. It can be applied to many different substrates but the mono-digestion of a single substrate usually has some important drawbacks due to the physico-chemical characteristics of the substrate. A feasible solution is the simultaneous co-digestion of several substrates with different composition and characteristics, so that synergetic effects may be generated and physico-chemical characteristics may be compensated, thus reaching higher process efficiencies and biogas production rates. In this work, a multi-parametric analysis for the objective comparison of industrial wastes was developed in order to help with decision making about their suitability as a co-substrate in anaerobic co-digestion. Criteria considered for this analysis included sample composition, C/N ratios, theoretical biochemical methane potential (BMP), and other important issues such as production rates, seasonality, and the distance to the WWTP or pre-treatment requirements. Results showed that, among the 13 evaluated wastes, 2 of them showed a higher potential for being used in anaerobic co-digestion: 1. Fried corn from the snack food industry and 2. Wet fatty pomace from the olive oil industry. Both wastes showed high estimated BMP values, high lipid and carbohydrate content, and C/N ratios in a proper range to improve the low C/N ratio of sewage sludge. Other wastes such as olive pomace (dry), skinless corn (not fried), and grape pomace from the winery industry may also be used as co-substrates. As a conclusion, this procedure based on a selection matrix can be considered as a useful tool to help both producers and WWTP operators to make decisions about the potential applicability of specific industrial wastes as co-substrates in anaerobic co-digestion.

Keywords: anaerobic co-digestion; biochemical methane potential; co-substrates; industrial wastes; valorization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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