Enhancing Biogas Production: An Assessment of Pasteurization Effects on Poultry, Swine, Bovine Manure and Food Waste Substrates

Ioanna Michailidou, Ifigeneia Grigoriadou, Themistoklis Sfetsas (), Christos Vlachokostas, Georgios Arsenos and Aristotelis Lymperopoulos ()
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Ioanna Michailidou: Laboratory of Farm Animal Reproduction and Animal Breeding, Division of Animal Science, Department of Agriculture, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Ifigeneia Grigoriadou: Research & Development, Quality Control and Testing Services, QLAB Private Company, 57008 Thessaloniki, Greece
Themistoklis Sfetsas: Research & Development, Quality Control and Testing Services, QLAB Private Company, 57008 Thessaloniki, Greece
Christos Vlachokostas: Sustainability Engineering Laboratory, School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Georgios Arsenos: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Aristotelis Lymperopoulos: Laboratory of Farm Animal Reproduction and Animal Breeding, Division of Animal Science, Department of Agriculture, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: Within the evolving regulatory landscape of the European Union concerning animal by-product (ABP) management within the circular economy framework, this study explores the concurrent objectives of safeguarding public health and environmental integrity and maximizing final product value. Anaerobic digestion (AD) emerges as a holistic solution for ABP management, addressing sanitation concerns while enhancing end-product quality. Through laboratory-scale experimentation, the AD process applied to four substrates—poultry manure, swine manure, cattle manure, and food waste—is scrutinized. Prior to AD, pasteurization at 70 °C for 60 min ensures microbial safety. Subsequently, four experimental AD cycles compare pasteurized and unpasteurized substrates. Results highlight the efficacy of pasteurization in sanitizing final products across all substrates, emphasizing its pivotal role in product safety. However, pasteurization’s impact on system performance varies. While enhancing biogas yield from animal waste notably, its influence on food waste biogas production is less pronounced, indicating substrate-specific dynamics. This study offers insights into optimizing ABP management strategies, emphasizing the interplay between pasteurization, substrate characteristics, and AD performance. Such insights are crucial for advancing sustainable practices in the circular economy paradigm, balancing environmental stewardship with economic viability.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; pasteurization; animal by product; sustainability; biogas yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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