Biogas Production from Vegetable and Fruit Markets Waste—Compositional and Batch Characterizations

Carlos Morales-Polo, María del Mar Cledera-Castro and B. Yolanda Moratilla Soria
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Carlos Morales-Polo: ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, Alberto Aguilera 25, 28015 Madrid, Spain
María del Mar Cledera-Castro: ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, Alberto Aguilera 25, 28015 Madrid, Spain
B. Yolanda Moratilla Soria: ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, Alberto Aguilera 25, 28015 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 23, 1-22

Abstract: This study presents a complete characterization of the residual materials found in fruit and vegetable markets and their adaptability to be treated by anaerobic digestion with the aim of generating biogas as a new and renewable energy source. It has been determined that these substrates are perfectly suitable to be treated by anaerobic digestion, being rich in simple carbohydrates, with a high content of moisture and solids (total and volatile), which makes it a substrate of easy solubilization and with a great amount of matter directly accessible to the microorganisms responsible for anaerobic degradation. The process develops smoothly, with a slight release of acidic elements, but without impact by the development of the buffer effect by ammonia. In addition, a phenomenon of digestion is observed in two phases, indicating that despite the particulateing of the substrate, it manages to digest the organic matter directly accessible and the inaccessible. In numerical terms, 100 g of residue V produce 913.282 NmL of biogas, of which 289.333 NmL correspond to methane. The disintegration constant is 0.200 days −1 , with 16,045% of the substrate degraded. As an innovation, the hydrogen generated in the process has been used as an indicator of the stability and development of the process. Accompanied by a statistical analysis and mathematical adjustments, it is possible to characterize in depth the process and its evolution, determining that the degradation is fast, with a rapid and stable hydrolysis.

Keywords: biowaste; BMP; biomethane; biofuel; anaerobic digestion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6790-:d:292438

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