Synergistic Effects of Co-Digestion on Biomethane Yield: Insights from Jatropha Cake, Poultry Dung, and Food Waste

The growing demand for renewable energy and efficient waste management urgently necessitates investigating enhanced biomethane production methods. This study examines biomethane generation through mono-digestion and co-digestion of jatropha cake (JC), poultry dung (PW), and food waste (FW) at various mixing ratios. Digestion was conducted using the Automatic Methane Potential Testing System II (AMPTS II) at 37 ± 2 °C. FW emerged as the most promising substrate yielding 558.95 mLCH₄/g VS_added. The optimal substrate combination, 60% FW + 20% PW + 20% JC, produced 424.50 mLCH₄/g VS_added, and a biodegradability (BD) of 78.43%. It demonstrated high synergistic effect index (SEI) of 73.09%, enhancing microbial activity and digestion stability. These results highlight co-digestion as a strategic approach to enhanced biomethane yield through improved C/N ratio balance, synergistic microbial interactions, and optimized substrate properties through anaerobic digestion (AD) by promoting renewable energy production while addressing waste management challenges.