Evaluating input parameter effects on the overall anaerobic co-digestion performance of abattoir and winery solid wastes

This study focused on biochemical methane potential (BMP) from recalcitrant abattoir and winery solid wastes, to evaluate the effects of various input parameters on the overall anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) performance. Standard BMP protocols were employed. The parameters evaluated were co-substrate-ratio of abattoir solid (As), winery solid (Ws) and cow blood (Cb) in binary and ternary combinations (1:1, 2:3 and 1:1:3), food-to-microorganism ratio (F/M) (0.5–2) and volatile solids (VS) concentration (5–20 gVSL−1). A combination of zebra dung and ruminal contents served as inoculum. Methane production was simulated by curve-fitting kinetic models. Highest methane yields of 369.56 and 354.13 NmLCH4/gVSadded were obtained from co-digested substrates AsWs and CbWs respectively. All models used showed methane production profiles with over 90% accuracy. An increase in F/M and VS concentration reduced the overall digestion performance. This suggests an improvement in the valorisation of abattoir and winery wastes for full-scale AD plants. [Display omitted] •Biogas yields improved with co-digestion of Abattoir and Winery solid wastes.•Combination of Zebra dung and ruminal contents as inoculum proved viable.•Methane production profiles simulated with over 90% accuracy.•Highest BMP from co-digestion of AsWs (2:3) with F/M (0.5) and OL (5) gVSL−1.