Biochemical methane potentials in co-digestion of whey, macroalgae and cattle sludge at different mixture rates

In this study, cattle sludge, algae and cheese whey were mixed at 3 different ratios and co- digested under laboratory conditions at 4 different digestion temperatures in order to determine biochemical methane potentials. In addition, for comparison purposes with mixtures, cattle sludge alone was subjected to biogas treatment. The experimental setup designed and manufactured for this purpose. The highest biochemical methane potential (BMP) was obtained in the Mixture-2 which contains 30% cattle sludge, 20% algae and 50% cheese whey with 0,345 Nm3 CH4/kgVS at 45 ºC temperature. As the ratio of cheese whey in the mixtures and digestion temperature increased, the biochemical methane potential also increased. BMP of cattle sludge was less than that of all mixtures.