Energy Production Potential of Food Processing Waste through Anaerobic Digestion

Sourabh Ajit Chougala *

Department of Processing and Food Engineering, UAS, Raichur-584101, India.

Viresh Kumargouda

Department of Processing and Food Engineering, UAS, Bangalore-560065, India.

G. V. Mohitkumar

Department of Processing and Food Engineering, UAS, Bangalore-560065, India.

Suvarna Chavannavar

Department of Microbiology, UAS, Bangalore-560065, India.

Rinku Varma

Department of Environmental Science, UAS, Raichur-584101, India.

Ramappa

Department of Processing and Food Engineering, College of Technology and Engineering, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajastan-313001, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Food-processing industries generate substantial quantities of biodegradable organic residues that require environmentally sound management. This study assessed the energy-production potential of food-processing waste through anaerobic digestion under routine operating conditions at a biogas plant in Kuriya village, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. The 500 m³ digester processed approximately 8 tonnes of food-processing waste per day, with water added at a reported 1:1 ratio. Biogas production was monitored using a flow meter for 90 days, while methane and carbon dioxide were measured using a handheld infrared biogas analyser. Mean daily biogas production was 561.47 m³, and the 10-day mean values ranged from 554.0 to 567.0 m³. The highest temperature-associated biogas production, 581 m³, was recorded at 34°C. Mean methane and carbon dioxide volumes were 336.88 m³ and 168.44 m³, respectively. Water scrubbing was associated with reported methane volumes approximately 20% higher after purification than before purification. The observations indicate that mixed food-processing residues supported continuous biogas generation during the monitoring period. However, the reported purification data did not include total outlet gas flow, methane recovery, methane loss, water consumption, or a mass balance. Accordingly, the findings describe plant performance under the observed conditions but do not establish overall energy-conversion efficiency or commercial scalability.

Keywords: Food-processing waste, anaerobic digestion, biogas production, methane, carbon dioxide, water scrubbing, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, gas composition, plant-scale assessment


How to Cite

Chougala, Sourabh Ajit, Viresh Kumargouda, G. V. Mohitkumar, Suvarna Chavannavar, Rinku Varma, and Ramappa. 2026. “Energy Production Potential of Food Processing Waste through Anaerobic Digestion”. Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology 29 (9):105-13. https://doi.org/10.9734/jabb/2026/v29i94288.

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