Optimizing food waste biodigestion: pre-selection of microbial groups and isolated enzymes using the plackett-burman experimental design

Abstract

This study investigated the use of anaerobic biodigestion as an ecological technique for treating organic waste in urban solid waste. Biogas production is carried out through the action of microorganisms, and the use of enzymatic hydrolysis can increase biogas production, although it presents economic challenges. The aim of the study was to pre-select microbiological groups and enzymes to optimize the process and increase biogas production using statistical tools. Organic waste from a restaurant and sludge from a sewage treatment plant in Brazil were used, and three bacterial strains and 12 groups of microorganisms, as well as commercial enzymes, were evaluated. The study was divided into four stages to reduce the number of independent variables and increase the accuracy of methane and biogas production results. The results indicated that careful selection of microbial groups had a significant positive impact on biogas and methane production. The interaction between pre-selected groups of microorganisms and enzymes resulted in significant positive effects on cumulative biogas and biometane production. The study concluded that careful selection of microbial groups is essential to maximize biogas production and the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion process. Further, a more detailed identification of microorganisms and their interactions is needed to further optimize biogas production. In general, the appropriate choice of microbial groups is fundamental to the success of anaerobic digestion and biogas production.