Energy Production Potential of Food Processing Waste through Anaerobic Digestion

Abstract

Food-processing industries generate substantial quantities of biodegradable organic residues that require environmentally sound management. This study assessed the energy-production potential of food-processing waste through anaerobic digestion under routine operating conditions at a biogas plant in Kuriya village, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. The 500 m³ digester processed approximately 8 tonnes of food-processing waste per day, with water added at a reported 1:1 ratio. Biogas production was monitored using a flow meter for 90 days, while methane and carbon dioxide were measured using a handheld infrared biogas analyser. Mean daily biogas production was 561.47 m³, and the 10-day mean values ranged from 554.0 to 567.0 m³. The highest temperature-associated biogas production, 581 m³, was recorded at 34°C. Mean methane and carbon dioxide volumes were 336.88 m³ and 168.44 m³, respectively. Water scrubbing was associated with reported methane volumes approximately 20% higher after purification than before purification. The observations indicate that mixed food-processing residues supported continuous biogas generation during the monitoring period. However, the reported purification data did not include total outlet gas flow, methane recovery, methane loss, water consumption, or a mass balance. Accordingly, the findings describe plant performance under the observed conditions but do not establish overall energy-conversion efficiency or commercial scalability.