Anaerobic co‑digestion of bovine ruminal waste and brewery spent grain: Effects of inoculum to substrate ratio, mixing ratio, process stability, organic matter removal, and methane yield

Abstract

The technological potential of co-digesting bovine rumen waste (BRW) with brewery spent grain (BSG) is significant, offering enhanced biogas production and effective waste management. This study's findings demonstrate that the anaerobic digestion process becomes significantly more efficient when difficult to degrade BRW is combined with easily degradable BSG. The highest methane yield obtained in the mono-digestion of BRW was 127.11 NmL_CH4 g_VS⁻¹ with biodegradability of 33.89 % in inoculum to substrate ratio (ISR) 2, and for de BSG obtained was 304.18 NmL_CH4 g_VS⁻¹ with biodegradability of 68.26 % in ISR 4. The overall average obtained in co-digestion for volatile solids (VS) removal was 26.28 %, and the concentration of methane present in the biogas was 57.18 %. The VS removal efficiency and the increase in biogas and methane yield were directly proportional to the rise in ISR and the proportion of BSG in the mixture. Specifically, the ideal mix of 25 % BRW with 75 % BSG at ISR 4 resulted in a notable methane yield of 255.30 NmL_CH4 g_VS⁻¹. This process stabilizes digestion and significantly improves solids removal and methane concentration, making it a highly efficient solution for sustainable energy production and industrial waste management.