Food waste leachate (FWL) is a serious pollutant waste coming from the food waste recycling facilities in Korea. FWL has a high organic matter content and high COD to nitrogen (COD/N) ratio, which can disturb efficient methane production in the anaerobic digestion of FWL. In the present study a microalga, Clorella vulgaris (C.V), was used as co-substrate for the FWL anaerobic digestion in order to supply nutrients, decrease the COD/N ratio and increase its methane yield. Different co-digestion mixtures (COD/N ratios) were studied by using biochemical methane potential test and modified Gompertz equation for kinetic study. Mixed substrate of FWL and C. vulgaris in the co-digestion clearly showed more the biomethane yield than the sole substrates. The maximum methane production, 827.7 mL-CH4/g-VS added, was obtained for COD/N ratio of 24/1, whereas the highest improvement of methane yield was found for COD/N ratio of 15/1.

• 이관용(건국대학교 사회환경시스템공학과) | Lee Kwanyong
• 프롬폴(건국대학교 사회환경시스템공학과) | Chantrasakdakul Phrompol
• 김대기(건국대학교 사회환경시스템공학과) | Kim Daegi
• 박종진(코오롱환경서비스기술연구소) | Park Jongjin
• 최장승(다이텍연구원) | Choi Jang-Seung
• 박기영(건국대학교 사회환경시스템공학과) | Park Ki Young Corresponding author