Integrated anaerobic digestion of fish waste and vegetable market waste for biogas production : A sustainable energy solution for residential buildings
Sameer, Muhammad (2025)
2025
Master's Programme in Environmental Engineering
Tekniikan ja luonnontieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2025-06-26
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202505246104
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202505246104
Tiivistelmä
With the growing global population, rapid urbanization, and increasing energy demand, the need for sustainable waste management and renewable energy solutions has become more critical than ever. Continued dependence on fossil fuels not only depletes limited natural resources but also contributes to severe environmental consequences such as air pollution and climate change. Simultaneously, the accumulation of municipal solid waste poses aesthetic impacts and health risks. Anaerobic digestion (AD) offers a promising solution by converting organic waste into biogas, a renewable energy source, while addressing waste management concerns.
This thesis aims to explore the feasibility of using the co-digestion of fish waste and vegetable market waste for biogas production to fulfill the energy requirements of a residential building in Lahore, Pakistan. The research focuses on identifying optimal feedstock ratios under seasonal variations, evaluating biogas output, and assessing the use of digestate as a fertilizer, based on data presented in the literature. It also investigates the economic and environmental impact of adopting such a waste-to-energy model at the community level, offering insights into potential scalability for wider urban applications.
The thesis revealed that 6500 kg of daily feedstock, composed of fish and vegetable waste, is sufficient to power the building. Seasonal variation affected the co-digestion ratios, optimized at 1:3 (vegetable-to-fish) in summer and 1:1 in winter. The AD system, designed with a digester volume of 774 m³, operated under HRTs of 22 and 29 days and OLRs of 1,42 and 1,99 kg VS/m³/day in summer and winter, respectively. Biogas production reached around 366 000 kWh in summer and around 490 000 kWh in winter, exceeding the build-ing’s energy demand. Digestate analysis showed recovery of 21000 kg of nitrogen and 3800 kg of phosphorus annually, sufficient to fertilize 109 hectares for nitrogen but only 36 hectares for phosphorus. Economically, the system provides energy at a consistent monthly cost of 1900 PKR, proving more stable and competitive than conventional energy sources. Although challenges like feedstock variability and future pricing may affect feasibility, this model highlights a viable path toward sustainable urban living and circular economy development.
Overall, this study demonstrates a viable waste-to-energy approach that effectively tack-les the issues of organic waste disposal while contributing to sustainable energy production. The conversion of fish and vegetable market waste into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate not only fulfils energy requirements but also enhances environmental performance and promotes the principles of a circular economy.
This thesis aims to explore the feasibility of using the co-digestion of fish waste and vegetable market waste for biogas production to fulfill the energy requirements of a residential building in Lahore, Pakistan. The research focuses on identifying optimal feedstock ratios under seasonal variations, evaluating biogas output, and assessing the use of digestate as a fertilizer, based on data presented in the literature. It also investigates the economic and environmental impact of adopting such a waste-to-energy model at the community level, offering insights into potential scalability for wider urban applications.
The thesis revealed that 6500 kg of daily feedstock, composed of fish and vegetable waste, is sufficient to power the building. Seasonal variation affected the co-digestion ratios, optimized at 1:3 (vegetable-to-fish) in summer and 1:1 in winter. The AD system, designed with a digester volume of 774 m³, operated under HRTs of 22 and 29 days and OLRs of 1,42 and 1,99 kg VS/m³/day in summer and winter, respectively. Biogas production reached around 366 000 kWh in summer and around 490 000 kWh in winter, exceeding the build-ing’s energy demand. Digestate analysis showed recovery of 21000 kg of nitrogen and 3800 kg of phosphorus annually, sufficient to fertilize 109 hectares for nitrogen but only 36 hectares for phosphorus. Economically, the system provides energy at a consistent monthly cost of 1900 PKR, proving more stable and competitive than conventional energy sources. Although challenges like feedstock variability and future pricing may affect feasibility, this model highlights a viable path toward sustainable urban living and circular economy development.
Overall, this study demonstrates a viable waste-to-energy approach that effectively tack-les the issues of organic waste disposal while contributing to sustainable energy production. The conversion of fish and vegetable market waste into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate not only fulfils energy requirements but also enhances environmental performance and promotes the principles of a circular economy.