Experimental trials and dynamical simulation of the potential biogas production in a frozen food industry

Food industry determines the production of huge quantities of by-products, solid and waste. Identifying an ecological and economically viable solution for the management and disposal of horticultural wastes helps reducing the environmental impact of this kind of industries. In this paper a biogas production potential was obtained during one year of hourly data observation in a frozen food industry through dynamical simulation. This provides useful data for the correct management of an anaerobic digestion plant using the horticultural wastes coming from the production lines.The experimental analysis was carried out in an Italian cooperative firm, that process and market canned foods and frozen foods. Material flows were analysed especially considering the production of wastes. From the quantitative point of view, the hourly, daily, monthly, and annual flows of the single by-products of the studied processing cycle were determined. A dynamical simulation tool was developed to determine an optimized waste management procedure for biogas production. Design criteria was obtained for a biomass treatment to recover the organic substance for biogas production.