Establishment of an inspection standard for decomposition and methane production rates of organic waste co-digestion facilities in Korea

J Environ Manage. 2024 Apr:356:120578. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120578. Epub 2024 Mar 27.

Abstract

Domestic organic waste resources have increased over the past decade and treatment of this waste via co-digested biogasification facilities is increasing annually. However, inspection standards for such facilities are not well-established. Herein, we aimed to derive calculation formulas and factors related to organic matter decomposition efficiency and methane production rate in accordance with waste treatment facility inspection standards. We also aimed to determine the optimum waste mixing ratio. Sample (field) surveys of 18 treatment facilities and complete enumeration of 110 facilities were conducted. Calculation formulas and factors were derived using the survey data and biochemical methane potential (BMP) test. The calculated coefficients derived through the BMP test were 0.512 m3 CH4/kgVSin for food waste, 0.601 m3 CH4/kgVSin for livestock manure, and 0.382 m3 CH4/kgVSin for sewage sludge. The final derived calculation factors were 65.0% for food waste, 36.0% for livestock manure, and 20.0% for sewage sludge for organic matter decomposition efficiency, and 0.380 m3 CH4/kgVSin for food waste, 0.27 m3 CH4/kgVSin for livestock manure, and 0.140 m3 CH4/kgVSin for sewage sludge for methane production rates. The derived effective capacity calculation factors can be utilized in future waste treatment facility inspection methods by aiding in the establishment of appropriate inspection standards for co-digested biogasification facilities other than single food waste treatment facilities. In addition, the optimum mixing ratio can be used as design data for co-digested biogasification facilities.

Keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Food waste; Livestock manure; Methane production; Sewage sludge.

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Bioreactors
  • Digestion
  • Food
  • Food Loss and Waste
  • Manure / analysis
  • Methane / analysis
  • Refuse Disposal*
  • Republic of Korea
  • Sewage* / chemistry

Substances

  • Sewage
  • Manure
  • Food Loss and Waste
  • Methane