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Updated: Sep 11, 2026

Measuring Biomethane Potential of Food Scrap Waste Anaerobically Co-Digested with Waste-Activated Sludge Using Respirometry
Published on: April 26, 2024
Blackwater and food waste: a sustainable synergy for low-temperature biomethane
D Ela-A Justina1,2, Sudeshna Saikia2, Debendra Chandra Baruah1
1Energy Conservation Laboratory, Department of Energy, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam India.
Abstract:
Blackwater (BW), generated from sanitation systems, poses significant disposal challenges due to its high organic, nutrient and pathogen content, yet offers substantial potential for biomethane generation via anaerobic digestion (AD). However, mono-digestion of low-strength BW yields limited methane due to inhibitory compounds (e.g., ammonia, sulfate) and reduced microbial activity. This review extensively explores the potential of co-digestion (coD) of BW with food waste (FW) to maximize energy generation and sanitation benefits, especially in low temperature (Lt) AD systems (operated typically < 20 °C). The review presents a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of BW, inhibitory challenges in BW AD and mitigation via AcoD with FW in LtAD. Key aspects include biomass acclimatization, optimal mixing ratios of BW: FW, organic loading rates, sludge retention, nutrient recovery and reactor modifications for continuous operation. Strategies for biomethane enhancement are also evaluated. The review highlights the potential of BW-FW AcoD for sustainable sanitation, decentralized bioenergy production and circular economy alignment in cold climate regions, while identifying research gaps for future optimization.
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