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Potential to use out-of-date food waste, including animal waste, to produce substrates for biogas plants — a comprehensive system Cover

Potential to use out-of-date food waste, including animal waste, to produce substrates for biogas plants — a comprehensive system

Environmental Protection and Natural Resources
Volume 37 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)
By:   
Open Access
|Apr 2026
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Figure 1.

Production of methane and biogas from substratesSource: in-house studies

Figure 2.

Cumulative methane volume [ml/day]Source: in-house studies

Figure 3.

Daily methane volume [ml/day]Source: in-house studies

Figure 4.

The minimum, maximum, and average contents of the tested biogas components (CH4, CO2, O2)Source: in-house studies

Figure 5.

The minimum, maximum, and average contents of the tested biogas component (H2S)Source: in-house studies

Figure 6.

The methane and biogas yields per fresh substrate mass and dry organic matterSource: in-house studies

Methane content potential in substrates

SubstrateBiogas yield [m3/t d.o.m.*]Methane content [%vol]
Pig slurry300–70060–70
Corn silage450–70050–55
Brewing malt580–75059–60
Grass550–68055–65
Shop waste400–60060–65

Results of microbiological tests of samples after radiation sterilization

Sample Typecfu*/g
Sample of expired plant waste<10
Sample of out-of-date animal waste<10
Mixed sample 50/50<10

Results of microbiological tests of samples after UV sterilization

Sample Typecfu*/g
Sample of expired plant waste8.6*103
Sample of out-of-date animal waste9.8*108
Mixed sample 50/501.1*109

Results of physicochemical tests of samples before and after sterilization

Tested parameterUnitRaw sample (MiS)UV sample (MiUV)Heat-sterilized sample (MiP)Radiation-sterilized sample (MiR)
Loss on ignition of dry mass% d.m.94.994.294.694.2
Dry mass content%17.514.114.715.6
Kjeldahl nitrogenmg/kg w.m.*9430716093109220
Petroleum ether extractable substancesmg/kg w.m.*41000310003000038000
pH-4.54.35.15

SWOT analysis for constructing plants producing substrates for biogas plants based on out-of-date waste, including category III animal waste

Categories of analysisDescription of the analysis
Strengths
  • -

    stable access to out-of-date waste on an annual basis;

  • -

    low investment and operating cost;

  • -

    reduction in the amount of out-of-date waste sent for thermal treatment;

  • -

    high demand for renewable energy;

  • -

    product for use in all methane fermentation plants

Weaknesses
  • -

    the need to work with large retail chains;

  • -

    the need to use a sterilization process;

  • -

    management of packaging waste;

  • -

    limited scope for transportation of finished substrate

Opportunities
  • -

    support and investment subsidy programmes;

  • -

    reduction of costs for the collection and disposal of out-of-date waste;

  • -

    reduction in the use of monocultures in agriculture as traditional substrates for biogas plants (increase in biodiversity);

  • -

    reduction of costs for energy consumption based on certificates for large-scale shops

Threats
  • -

    changing energy policy;

  • -

    public protests;

  • -

    protests by farmers using monocrops as traditional substrates for biogas plants;

  • -

    decrease in the price of using agricultural waste in biogas plants.

Methane potential test conditions

SampleFermentation time/active fermenter volumeFermenter organic dry matter load [kg d.o.m./m3]The time when 90% of the methane volume was createdFermented substrate mass [g]
Mixed 50/50 plant-animal sample after heat sterilization21 days/400 ml4.99415 days14.365
50/50 mixed plant-animal sample after UV sterilization21 days/400 ml5.00814 days15.082
50/50 mixed plant-animal sample after radiation sterilization21 days/400 ml5.02515 days13.678

Characteristics of measuring equipment for methane and biogas measurements

A measuring device used to determine the amount of methane producedA measuring device is used to determine the composition of the biogas
  • -

    Manufacturer: Bioprocess Control

  • -

    Model: AMPTS II

  • -

    Reactors with an active volume of 400 ml

  • -

    Process temperature: 50 °C
  • -

    Manufacturer: Geotech

  • -

    Model: Biogas 5000

  • -

    Measuring range: CH4, CO2, O2, H2S (range 0–5000 ppm)

Results of the model analysis of substrates

Tested parameterMiSMiPMiUVMiR
Dry mass content17.5%14.7%14.1%15.6%
Organic dry matter content94.9%94.6%94.2%94.2%
Fat content in organic dry matter24.69%21.57%23.34%25.86%
Protein content in organic dry matter35.49%41.84%33.69%39.21%
Carbohydrate content in dry organic matter39.82%36.58%42.97%34.93%
Biogas production in m3/t of fresh substrate mass143 m3/t118 m3/t113 m3/t128 m3/t
Average methane concentration (model)62%62%61%63%
Production of electricity from 1 ton of substrate350 kWh291 kWh275 kWh317 kWh

Results of microbiological tests of samples without sterilization

Sample Typecfu*/g
Sample of expired plant waste1.5*106
Sample of out-of-date animal waste6.0*108
Mixed sample 50/501.1*109

Results of microbiological tests of samples after thermal sterilization

Sample Typecfu*/g
Sample of expired plant waste<10
Sample of out-of-date animal waste1.3*104
Mixed sample 50/501.2*104

Potential for producing methane from waste

WasteMethane production [ml CH4/g d.o.m.*]
Bio Municipal400
Green100–300
Fish400–550
Expired dairy products520
Malt350

Basic parameters of the substrate product for biogas plants

ParametersRange of values
Dry matter content5–20%
Organic dry matter content75–90%
Biogas yield400–600 m3/t d.o.m.
Methane content60–70% by volume
Terms of useExtended by using sterilization
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oszn-2026-0003 | Journal eISSN: 2353-8589 | Journal ISSN: 1230-7831
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Language: English
Page range: 31 - 51
Published on: Apr 20, 2026
Published by: National Research Institute, Institute of Environmental Protection
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
Keywords:
food waste,
sterilization,
substrate for biogas plants,
animal waste,
out-of-date food products
Related subjects:
Life sciences,
Ecology

© 2026 Dominik Zbigniew Wojewódka, published by National Research Institute, Institute of Environmental Protection
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 37 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)
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