Anaerobic digestion and co-digestion processes of vegetable and fruit residues: process and microbial ecology

Bioresour Technol. 2011 Oct;102(20):9447-55. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.07.068. Epub 2011 Jul 27.

Abstract

This study evaluated the feasibility of methane production from fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) obtained from the central food distribution market in Mexico City using an anaerobic digestion (AD) process. Batch systems showed that pH control and nitrogen addition had significant effects on biogas production, methane yield, and volatile solids (VS) removal from the FVW (0.42 m(biogas)(3)/kg VS, 50%, and 80%, respectively). Co-digestion of the FVW with meat residues (MR) enhanced the process performance and was also evaluated in a 30 L AD system. When the system reached stable operation, its methane yield was 0.25 (m(3)/kg TS), and the removal of the organic matter measured as the total chemical demand (tCOD) was 65%. The microbial population (general Bacteria and Archaea) in the 30 L system was also determined and characterized and was closely correlated with its potential function in the AD system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Ecology*
  • Fruit / metabolism*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mexico
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Vegetables / metabolism*