Paper Title
EFFECT OF FOOD TO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WASTE RATIO ON ACIDOGENESIS AND METHANOGENESIS DURING TWO-STAGE ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

Abstract
Abstract - Anaerobic digestion (AD) is environment friendly technology for treating huge quantum of organic waste. Fruit and vegetable waste and food waste are two main streams of Municipal solid waste and constitute 70% of total production. Co-digestion of this waste will not only reduce the burden on landfill but also mitigate the energy crisis. AD holds substantial potential of generating renewable energy through biological conversion of this huge quantum of organic waste. Present study was undertaken to evaluate optimum mix ratio for co-digestion of fruit and vegetable waste with food waste and its effect of biogas yield during two stage anaerobic digestion in Leach Bed reactor coupled with upflow anaerobic sludge blanker (UASB). Different ratio selected for the study was Food waste and Fruit and vegetable waste (FW: FVW) (1:1, 2:1, 2:3). Results portrayed that hydrolysis rate (68.5%), sCOD (3500 g/KgVS) and tVFA (2545 g/KgVS) yield was higher in 2:1 FW: FVW ratio. Performance analysis pointed that higher VS and COD reduction was obtained for 2:3 FW: FVW ratio equivalent to (62%) and COD removal of (58%) removal than 2:1 FW: FVW ratio 46.34% and 41.8% respectively. FW addition regulated pH, and VFA production with enhanced methanogenesis by maintaining VFA / Alkalinity ratio in two-stage AD process which further boosted process stability and efficiency. Keywords - Biogas, Food Waste, Fruit And Vegetable Waste, Mixing Ratio, VFA/ Alkalinity Ratio, Volatile Fatty Acid.