Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Tomato Waste to Enhance the Production of Methane gas

Abstract

Abstract: Tomatoes are the most commonly used vegetable for cooking purposes and the fastest damaging vegetable in its lifetime. Tomato waste is a low-cost source of organic compounds, such as antioxidants, soluble dietary fibers, and vitamins. The high initial moisture content of fresh tomato pomace makes this waste susceptible to the Digestion process. Tomato waste or any organic waste using an anaerobic digestion process will produce the biogas and also generates greenhouse gases like CO₂, CH_4, and other trace elements.  But, to increase productivity adding sewage sludge (as a second substrate) also called a Co-substrate. The addition of two substrates in a digestion process is called as Co-Digestion process. This process will increase the C/N ratio, Alkalinity, Total solids, etc., which will balance the key parameters to speed up the digestion process and eventually biogas production. The biggest role in biogas production is played by different types of microorganisms that consume the organic matter, and it will reduce the strength of the waste microorganisms like saprophytic bacteria and methanogenic bacteria will play into action in the digestion process.

Index Terms: Tomato waste, Anaerobic Digestion, Biogas, Greenhouse gas,