Effects of Mechanical Pretreatment Exposure Time on Methane Production in Mono Digestion of WWS and BSY

The management of organic waste through anaerobic digestion (AD) has emerged as a sustainable solution to energy and sanitation challenges. This study investigates the influence of mechanical pretreatment exposure time on the biomethane potential during the mono-digestion of wastewater sludge (WWS) and brewery spent yeast (BSY). Using a high pressure homogenizer, substrates were subjected to mechanical pretreatment for 5, 10, and 15 minutes. The biochemical methane potential (BMP) was assessed using the AMPTS II setup, and proximate analysis was performed to characterize the substrates. The results indicated cumulative biomethane yields of 15.30, 38.20, and 30.60 Nml for WWS and 38.20, 48.20, and 30.60 Nml for BSY at the respective treatment times. The highest yields were recorded at 10-minute exposure, producing 38.2 Nml and 48.2 Nml of WWS and BSY methane, respectively. These findings highlight the critical role of pretreatment duration in optimizing the AD process for selected feedstocks. The study contributes novel insights into the relationship between mechanical pretreatment and methane production, offering a pathway to enhance the economic viability of anaerobic digestion in organic waste management.