Production of biogas from olive pomace

Abstract

The present work treats anaerobic digestion as an alternative way for olive pomace treatment for energy and fertilizer production. Physico-chemical tests were conducted to identify the olive pomace biochemical methane potential (BMP). Effects of critical parameters, including, C/N ratio, dry matter and total volatile matter of the samples were carried out in order to optimize biogas composition. The first tests performed using 4g of pomace oil, with a mass ratio of inoculum: feedstock of 1:1, show a stable biogas production after 48hrs that can attain up to 200 ml/day. The total volume of biogas produced was 500 ml containing 51% wt methane.