Bioconversion Technologies: Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste

Anaerobic digestion has been recognized as an economical and effective way for food waste treatment and resource recovery. This chapter presented an overview on the researches about anaerobic digestion of food waste. Biochemical parameters and synergistic effect together with possible inhibition factors are analyzed to characterize the microbial catalyzed bioelectrochemical process. Phased anaerobic digestion (AD) and emerging AD-based bioelectrochemical systems including microbial fuel cell, microbial electrodialysis cell, and microbial electrosynthesis are introduced and evaluated. Resource recovery from AD of food waste in terms of CH₄, H₂, CH₄, and H₂ and volatile fatty acids are summarized. For the promotion of resource recovery, more attention should be paid to integrated technologies that can produce more useful products toward zero discharge. Furthermore a technological route for food waste conversion based on anaerobic digestion was proposed.