Food Waste Management on Campus: Assessment, Pre-treatment, and Potential for Biogas Production

• Grant number: 25/09567-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Maria Paula Cardeal Volpi
• Grantee: Luisa Lopes de Mello
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/01112-1 - São Paulo Center for Biogas and Bioproducts Studies, AP.CCD

Abstract

The growing interest in renewable energy sources has driven the search for sustainable and economically viable solutions. In this context, biogas stands out as it enables energy generation through the anaerobic digestion of organic waste, while simultaneously contributing to proper waste management. This project aims to assess the methane production potential from food waste generated at the university restaurant on the "Luiz de Queiroz" campus. The research will be divided into three stages. The first involves the physicochemical characterization of the waste, with an emphasis on quantifying organic matter. The second stage includes the analysis of selected physical pretreatment methods, based on literature review and the specific characteristics of the identified waste, in which various physical pretreatments will be tested. The third stage encompasses the energy balance of biogas production, using theoretical calculations and Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) assays for experimental validation. In addition to estimating the feasibility of local energy recovery, the project will include calculations for converting biogas into electrical energy, allowing for the evaluation of its applicability in other contexts, such as institutional dining facilities. This study will contribute to advancing anaerobic digestion as a sustainable alternative for decentralized energy generation and organic waste management. (AU)