Title: Anaerobic co-digestion of food waste for energy production - a review

Authors: Seema A. Nihalani

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Parul University, Vadodara-31760, India

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion is a recognised methodology for stabilising any kind of wastewater as well as degradation of organic matter. A useful end-product of anaerobic digestion process is bio-gas. Bio-gas is fuel gas, which is a mixture consisting of methane having concentration of about 65% and carbon dioxide having concentration of about 35%. In order to increase the yield of anaerobic digestion one of the options is carrying co-digestion with several substrates. When co-substrate is used along with anaerobic decomposition process it results in positive synergism between digestions medium improves yield of biogas. Solid waste management currently focuses only on disposal options instead of harnessing or recovering energy. Therefore, by moving energy-rich food waste from landfill sites to anaerobic treatment, it can help the society to manage solid waste in a sustainable manner and also generate renewable energy. Anaerobic co-digestion as a treatment option for solid waste is discussed here. Attention is laid towards anaerobic digestion using various substrates like municipal solid waste, domestic sludge, industrial sludge, animal waste, crop residues, weeds, etc.

Keywords: anaerobic co-digestion; municipal solid waste; solid retention time.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2017.088980

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2017 Vol.8 No.3/4, pp.315 - 324

Received: 02 Mar 2017
Accepted: 10 Jul 2017

Published online: 03 Jan 2018 *

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