Variations in generation of vegetable, fruit and flower market waste and effects on biogas production, exergy and energy contents

authored by: Velusamy Mozhiarasi, Christopher Josef Speier, P. M.Benish Rose, Moni Mohan Mondal, S. Pragadeesh, Dirk Weichgrebe, Shanmugham Venkatachalam Srinivasan
Abstract: In India, large quantities of centrally generated wastes from vegetable, fruit and flower wholesale markets (VFF) are mostly disposed without treatment at open dumpsites. To implement sustainable waste treatment system including an adapted substrate management for Indian cities, detailed information on temporal mass and compositional fluctuations of VFF are fundamental. This article investigates the sources, extent and influence of fluctuating VFF characteristics, and examines its impact on biogas production and energy potentials. A comprehensive analysis of VFF in the city of Chennai revealed strong fluctuations of individual waste component shares of 34.5–142.9% (vegetables), 40.5–185.9% (fruits) and 33.0–244.9% (flowers) throughout the monitored year. Waste amounts occur independently of fresh vegetable, fruit and flower amounts entering the urban area. Specific biogas yields (SBY) of VFF varied from 403.7 to 570.5 mL _N /g oDM during the analysis period of 4 months. A comparative analysis between calculated and measured SBY revealed that measured SBY are on average 9.7–22.4% lower, partly due to unfavourable C/N ratios. Despite fluctuations in VFF composition, monthly variations in theoretically available energy contents are not particularly pronounced if an adapted substrate management is applied for anaerobic treatment of VFF.
Organisation(s): Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management
External Organisation(s): Central Leather Research Institute
Type: Article
Journal: Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management
Volume: 21
Pages: 713-728
No. of pages: 16
ISSN: 1438-4957
Publication date: 01.05.2019
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Waste Management and Disposal, Mechanics of Materials
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-019-00828-2 (Access: Closed)