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Ayaan Sood
Independent Researcher
India
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion of food waste offers a sustainable route to renewable energy in the form of biogas. This study analyzes biogas yield from batch and continuous anaerobic reactors treating source-segregated food waste under mesophilic conditions (35 ± 2 °C). Experimental campaigns were conducted at organic loading rates (OLRs) of 2, 4, and 6 g VS/L·d with hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 20, 25, and 30 days. Gas production was measured daily using water displacement, and composition analyzed by gas chromatography. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA and regression modeling assessed the influence of OLR and HRT on methane yield. A MATLAB/Simulink model simulated reactor performance under varying operational scenarios, validated against experimental data. Results indicate a maximum specific methane yield of 0.33 L CH₄/g VS at OLR = 4 g VS/L·d and HRT = 25 days. Regression analysis showed OLR as the most significant factor (p < 0.05). Simulation outputs correlated within 5 % of observed yields. The study demonstrates the viability of food-waste digestion for biogas and provides design guidance for full-scale systems.
Keywords
anaerobic digestion, food waste, biogas yield, mesophilic reactor, organic loading rate.
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