Energy-oriented optimization of an anaerobic digestion plant for the combined treatment of solid and liquid wastes in a potato chips industrial plant

Asquer C;Pistis A;COCCO, DANIELE;Scano EA

2014-01-01

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Abstract

Potato chips represent the main product of the snack food industry. Their processing determines the production of several kinds of wastes characterised by different physical and chemical properties that make them eligible feedstock for biological treatments. In this paper the anaerobic digestion of all the solid and liquid wastes, produced by a potato chips processing line and properly mixed, is investigated. The experiment hereby described is carried out on a pilot-scale plant and aims to reproduce the real situation of a potato chips factory by feeding all the wastes in the anaerobic reactor in a ratio suitable for an effective treatment process. A comparison between the performance of anaerobic digestion processes feed by raw potato wastes and balanced mixtures of all potato wastes deriving from potato chips processing lines is carried out. Finally, the results of the experimental investigation were used for a preliminary performance evaluation of a full-scale anaerobic digestion power plant for treating all the potato wastes produced by an industrial potato chips production plant.