Optimization of biogas production by co-digesting whey with diluted poultry manure

A series of laboratory experiments were performed in continuously stirred tank reactors at mesophilic conditions, fed semi-continuously with various mixtures of diluted poultry manure and whey. Co-digestion of whey with manure was proved to be possible without any need of chemical addition up to 50% participation of whey (by volume) to the daily feed mixture. Up to this point, specific biogas production (L/kg VSin) remained roughly unchanged at the various whey fractions added in the feed mixture, mainly due to the lower chemical oxygen demand (COD) of whey compared to that of manure. At whey fractions above 50%, the reactor turned to be unstable, as shown by the considerable decrease in pH and biogas production. The experiments were scaled up to a continuously stirred pilot tank reactor, which had previously been acclimated to poultry manure digestion. Whey was gradually introduced in the feed, at increasing rates, replacing equivalent volumes of manure, in such a way, that total COD of the feed remained constant. For an hydraulic retention time of 18 days at 35°C and organic loading rate of 4.9g COD/LRd, it was found that biogas production increased from 1.5 to 2.2L/LRd (almost 40%). This could be mainly attributed to the higher biodegradability of carbohydrates (main constituent of whey) compared to lipids (main constituent of manure) and to the correction (increase) of C:N ratio.