This paper was a recipient of AASHE's Award for Student Research on Campus Sustainability.

Author(s): Ryan Graunke

Program Name: Soil and Water Science

Institution: University of Florida

Discipline(s): Geology and Earth Sciences

Keyword(s): Energy, Waste

Publication Date: January, 2008

Paper Type: Undergraduate Thesis

Biogas, a sustainable natural gas equivalent, can be produced from food waste using anaerobic digestion. Large amounts of food waste are produced at campus dining halls. The goals of the study were to determine biogas production and implementation potential at the University of Florida’s Broward Dining Hall. Food waste quantity and current disposal methods were determined. The waste was analyzed for volatile and total solid contents and potential biogas yield. The dining hall produces an average of 262 kg of food waste daily. Food was digested in a daily-fed, daily-mixed anaerobic digester at a loading rate of 2 g VS/ L and a 30 day hydraulic retention time. The food waste produced an average of 0.5188 L biogas/g VS/day or a total average biogas potential for the dining hall of 39.8 m3/day. This gas would supplement the natural gas needs of the dining hall. Biogas at Broward Dining would help UF meet its sustainability goals by reducing waste and producing carbon-neutral energy.

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