An evaluation of the fermentation efficiency of selected substrates from the agri-food sector on a physical, chemical and biological basis

University of Zielona Gora, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Licealna 9, 65-417 Zielona Góra, Poland

^* Corresponding author: m.suchowska-kisielewicz@iis.uz.zgora.pl

Abstract

Methane fermentation has been a waste management technique for years. The main advantages of fermentation include the production of electricity and heat from biogas or biomethane, which are a source of renewable energy. In order for the fermentation process to have good economic indicators, the continuous monitoring of process parameters is necessary. To control the fermentation process, an anaerobic test determining the biochemical methane potential (BMP) is particularly recommended. The disadvantage of this test is the long duration of measurements. Nowadays, AT4 respiration tests are increasingly used to assess the methane potential of waste. The main advantages of AT4 include: the 4-day duration of the test, the simple method for implementation and the possibility of applying the test to all types of waste. In practice, in most cases physical (VS) and chemical indicators (TOC and COD) are used to assess the suitability of substrates for fermentation and its effectiveness. However, these indicators specify only the total content of organic matter, yet do not give information on the fraction of biodegradable matter. The article presents an assessment of the efficiency of fermentation substrates selected from the agri-food sector on a physical, chemical and biological basis and presents the correlation between these indicators.