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Influence of Fluctuating Food Waste Concentrations on Horizontal Anaerobic Reactor Performance and Biogas Output

Author

Listed:
  • Jovale Vincent Tongco

    (Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Dr, Moscow, ID 83844, USA)

  • Sang Hyeok Park

    (Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang 37673, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea)

  • Su In Kim

    (Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang 37673, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea)

  • Seokhwan Hwang

    (Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang 37673, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Food waste (FW) sourced from treatment facilities is predominantly in solid form, with low water content and high variations in organic content. High organic content in FW is ideal in anaerobic digestion for bioenergy applications, but proper monitoring during start-up operations should be employed to avoid imbalance in the acidogenic/methanogenic population due to volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation in the system. The seed inoculum (5 L) in each horizontal anaerobic reactor (HAR) was fed with food waste without effluent flow (filling-up phase) until it reached the final working volume of 10 L (continuous phase). The pH, alkalinity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), VFA, biogas production, methane concentration, and microbial community dynamics were set as stability indicators during reactor operation. The results revealed that introducing fluctuations in FW concentrations does not negatively affect the biogas production (1.7 ± 0.2 L/L R /d) and methane concentration (59.0 ± 2.5%). Acclimatization of the methanogenic and bacterial population was also observed. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of fluctuating FW concentrations on the process performance of horizontal anaerobic reactors, focusing on process stability, microbial dynamics, and biogas output during filling-up and continuous phases.

Suggested Citation

  • Jovale Vincent Tongco & Sang Hyeok Park & Su In Kim & Seokhwan Hwang, 2025. "Influence of Fluctuating Food Waste Concentrations on Horizontal Anaerobic Reactor Performance and Biogas Output," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:19:p:5064-:d:1756557
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jovale Vincent Tongco & Md Abu Hanifa Jannat & Sangmin Kim & Sang Hyeok Park & Seokhwan Hwang, 2025. "Process Performance and Biogas Output: Impact of Fluctuating Acetate Concentrations on Methanogenesis in Horizontal Anaerobic Reactors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Seung Gu Shin & Su In Kim & Seokhwan Hwang, 2022. "Startup of Demo-Scale Anaerobic Digestion Plant Treating Food Waste Leachate: Process Instability and Recovery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-10, June.
    3. Agostini, Sara & Bucci, Luca & Doni, Davide & Costantini, Paola & Gupte, Ameya & Müller, Bettina & Sibilla, Fabrizio & Basaglia, Marina & Casella, Sergio & Kougias, Panagiotis G. & Campanaro, Stefano , 2024. "Bioaugmentation strategies based on bacterial and methanogenic cultures to relieve stress in anaerobic digestion of protein-rich substrates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    4. Salvatore Cambria & Pietro Minissale & Gianmarco Tavilla, 2024. "Phytosociological Investigations on the Afroalpine Vegetation of the Ruwenzori Mountains (Uganda)," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Bi, Shaojie & Wang, Chunshuang & Wang, Haipeng & Du, Yanli & Yu, Xinhui & Wang, Yanjie, 2024. "Comparison of mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste: Focusing on methanogenic performance and pathogens removal," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
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