Environmental factors and reactor configurations in biogas production from anaerobic co-digestion of fruit wastes

Abstract

A search for alternatives economically viable and environmentally sound to the world energy demand, stimulated the research in the field of anaerobic digestion, as a form of renewable energy and the anaerobic co-digestion is an alternative to use different types of residues, including food wastes. Therefore, this article presents an analysis of the scientific advances realized of the period of 2015 to 2018 in terms of anaerobic co-digestion, with emphasis on the use of different food residues, especially fruit and vegetable wastes, a different configuration of reactors, and kind of operational conditions used. A description of environmental factors affecting the process efficiency and the biogas generation based on substrate characteristics is presented in this review since these factors play an important role in the biogas yield and determine the metabolic conditions of the microorganism growth. Therefore, research should focus on the anaerobic digestion process balance, to identify optimal operating conditions through the use and valorization of wastes.