Anaerobic digestion of the Barcelona central food market organic wastes: Experimental study

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 39 - 48
• Main Authors: Mata-Alvarez, Joan, Llabrés, P., Cecchi, Franco, Pavan, Paolo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1992; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: anaerobic treatment; biogas; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of sewage sludges and wastes; Biotechnology; Environment and pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; kinetic; methanization; Municipal solid wastes; refuse; yields; refuse; anaerobic treatment; Municipal solid wastes; biogas; yields; methanization; kinetic; Biodegradability; Waste treatment; Urban waste; Solid waste; Biogas; Yield; Kinetics; Experimental study; Anaerobic digestion
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/0960-8524(92)90054-2

Experiments carried out to obtain data for a preliminary design of an anaerobic digestion plant treating the organic wastes coming from a large food market are described. Four hydraulic retention times (8, 12, 14 and 20 days) were tested in 3-litre laboratory digesters. The methane yields were high (around 0·478 m 3 CH 4/kg VS added). Kinetic analysis, using a first-order model, resulted in a kinetic constant of 3·1 day −1 and an ultimate methane yield of 0·489 CH 4/kg VS added. The biogeradability of the soluble and non-soluble fractions of the Volatile Solids (VS) is discussed.