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Updated: May 28, 2026

Measuring Biomethane Potential of Food Scrap Waste Anaerobically Co-Digested with Waste-Activated Sludge Using Respirometry
Published on: April 26, 2024
Co-digestion of different waste mixtures from agro-industrial activities: kinetic evaluation and synergetic effects
Jhosané Pagés Díaz1, Ileana Pereda Reyes, Magnus Lundin
1Process Engineering Centre, High Technical Institute José Antonio Echeverría (CUJAE), 11901, 114 Street, Marianao, Havana, Cuba. jhosane@quimica.cujae.edu.cu
Abstract:
Several wastes from agro-industrial activities were mixed in different ratios to evaluate the co-digestion process. Methane yield YCH4, specific methanogenic activity (SMA) and a kinetic parameter (k0) were determined. A second feeding was also performed to examine the recovery of bacterial activity after exhaustion. Mixture ratios of 1:1:1:1 and 1:3:4:0.5 (w/w) showed the best performance, with YCH4 of 664; 582 NmL CH4/gVSsubstrate, as well as SMA of 0.12; 0.13 gCODNmLCH4/gVSinoculum/d, respectively, during the digestion of the first feed. It was possible to relate synergetic effects with enhancement in YCH4 by up to 43%, compared with values calculated from YCH4 of the individual substrates. All batches started up the biogas production after an exhaustion period, when a second feed was added. However, long lag phases (up to 21 days) were observed due to stressed conditions caused by the substrate limitation prior to the second feed.
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