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

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 m3 CH4/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 CH4/kg VS added. The biogeradability of the soluble and non-soluble fractions of the Volatile Solids (VS) is discussed. © 1991