Anaerobic co-digestion of fish waste and other organic materials

This study explores the anaerobic co-digestion of fish waste with various organic substrates to enhance biogas production, addressing the environmental challenges posed by fish waste disposal. With 185 million tons of fish produced annually, a significant portion becomes waste during processing, leading to health hazards and ecological impacts. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is presented as an effective solution for converting this waste into biogas, a renewable energy source. The research investigates the effects of different substrate combinations, including cow dung, vegetable waste, and water hyacinth, on biogas yield and methane content. Batch tests were conducted over 40 days, maintaining optimal waste-to-inoculum ratios. Results indicated that co-digestion significantly improved biogas production, with the highest yield (68.15%) observed from the mixture of fish waste and water hyacinth, compared to 50.2% from fish waste alone. The study highlights the importance of maintaining a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and optimizing operational parameters, such as temperature, to maximize methane output. Overall, this research underscores the potential of anaerobic co-digestion as a sustainable approach to waste management and renewable energy generation from fish waste.