Enhancing Biogas Production by Adding Iron in Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Cheese Waste
Yusron Sugiarto, Yusuf Wibisono, Ni^Matul Izza, Elya Mufidah, Inggit Kresna Maharsih, Wahyunanto Agung Nugroho, Bintang Pamungkas

Department of Biosystem Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran, Malang, Indonesia
*email: yusronsugiarto[at]ub.ac.id

Abstract

Biogas production through anaerobic digestion is a promising renewable energy technology, primarily due to its ability to utilise organic waste materials. This study investigates the impact of iron (Fe) supplementation on biogas production using a mesophilic anaerobic digestion process with cheese waste as the substrate. The research aims to assess how varying Fe concentrations and cheese waste densities influence biogas yields. Experiments were conducted using a working volume of 60 mL, consisting of 10 mL of sludge and 50 mL of distilled water, with cheese waste concentrations ranging from 0 g/L to 33.33 g/L and FeCl&#8323- concentrations ranging from 0 g/L to 3.0 g/L. The result showed that the addition of 1 g/L of Fe achieved the highest biogas yield of 2919.13 mL/L. The effectiveness of these concentrations was attributed to enhanced degradation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and improved methanogenic activity, as indicated by pH monitoring and gas composition analysis. This study provides valuable insights into optimising biogas production from cheese waste, offering a sustainable approach to energy generation and waste management.

Keywords: Cheese Waste, Iron, Mesophilic, Waste Management

Topic: Waste and environmental management