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Optimizing biogas production through anaerobic digestion: transforming food waste and agricultural residues into renewable energy within a circular economy paradigm

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Abstract

The world population’s rapid growth has led to a surge in solid waste production, posing complex waste management challenges. This study explores the use of food waste for biogas production through anaerobic digestion, offering a sustainable solution. Anaerobic bacterial consortia were utilized to produce biogas from vegetable waste, banana peels, and cow dung. Proximate analysis revealed that a solid concentration exceeding 15% is crucial for effective anaerobic digestion. pH levels shifted from 4.2 to 6.9 post-digestion, indicating successful fermentation by methanogenic bacteria. Co-digestion of cattle dung with food waste yielded the highest cumulative biogas output of 1732 ml, surpassing mono-digestion at 1035 ml. Validation through a flame test confirmed biogas’s viability as a renewable energy source. Bacterial isolation highlighted their role in enhancing biogas output and process stability. Life cycle assessment (LCA) emphasized the environmental benefits of anaerobic digestion–based biogas production, underscoring its potential for sustainable waste management and bioenergy generation.

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Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Hazara University Mansehra, Mansehra, Pakistan

    Sadia Qayyum, Ayesha Tahir, Samia Zeb & Muhammad Faisal Siddiqui

  2. Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Abrar Hussain Mian

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Bushra Rehman

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  1. Sadia Qayyum
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  2. Ayesha Tahir
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The authors contributed to the study conception and design. The authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Appendix

Appendix

The regression analysis (Table 3) based on the stated inputs and cumulative outcomes showed that mono-digestion has a significant relationship with retention time. The outcomes show that each unit change causes 45.37 units of change in mono-digestion. The F-statistics confirm the stated outcomes.

Table 3 Regression analysis of mono-digestion as dependent variable
Full size table

The regression analysis (Table 4) based on the stated inputs and cumulative outcomes showed that co-digestion has a significant relationship with retention time. The outcomes show that each unit change causes a 69.96-unit change in co-digestion. The F-statistics significantly validated the stated outcomes. This study proved that co-digestion, i.e., (CD + VFW), is more effective than mono-digestion, i.e., (CD). And also, retention time has signification relationship with biogas yield.

Table 4 Regression analysis co-digestion as dependent variable
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Qayyum, S., Tahir, A., Mian, A.H. et al. Optimizing biogas production through anaerobic digestion: transforming food waste and agricultural residues into renewable energy within a circular economy paradigm. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-024-05651-w

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