Determination of the Physiochemical Characteristics of Hotel Food Waste and Its Biogas Fuel Potential
| dc.contributor.author | Chamdimba,Hope B. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Omosa,Isaiah | |
| dc.contributor.author | Wandera, Simon M. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-04-09T09:24:54Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-04-09T09:24:54Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description | Article | |
| dc.description.abstract | Hotels are the source of large quantities of food waste, which can potentially be used for the generation of biogas for different applications, including agriculture. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the physiochemical characteristics and biogas potential of the food waste generated by hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya. To achieve this, a composition and physiochemical analysis of the feedstock were undertaken, which involved collecting and analysing a food waste sample of 130 kg, which gives an accuracy the same as that of a 1000 kg sample, according to the literature. In addition, the theoretical biomethane potential of food waste was determined using the Buswell and Carbon Balance equations, and the theoretical results were validated using anaerobic digestion experiments. The analysis showed that the fractions of different FW groups were fruits and vegetables (46%), roots and tubers (17%), meat and fish (14%), grains and cereals (9%), others (8%), bakery (4%), and tea and coffee (2%). The hotel food waste total solids, volatile solids, pH, COD, carbohydrates, and protein contents were determined to be 9.6%, 8.81%, 4.65, 142.3 g L-1, 70%, and 13%, respectively. The C, H, O, N, and S compositions of the FW were 48.46%, 9.8%, 30.48%, and 2.2%, respectively. The test results showed that, based on these physiochemical characteristics, the hotel food waste had a theoretical methane yield of 643.07 mL gVS-1 and an experimental methane yield of 518.53 ± 9.69 mL gVS-1. The experimental yield was almost equal to an average biomethane potential of food waste (i.e., 525.65 CH4 ml gVS-1) based on the results of the other similar studies. Therefore, the hotel food waste can be used as an alternative feedstock for biogas generation if it is properly secured by, among other things, promoting onsite segregation of the hotel food waste. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | : Chamdimba, H. B., I. Omosa, and S. M. Wandera. 2025. Determination of the physiochemical characteristics of hotel food waste and its biogas fuel potential. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 27(1): 127-136 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://cigrjournal.org/index.php/Ejounral/article/view/9511 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/29939 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | CIGR | |
| dc.title | Determination of the Physiochemical Characteristics of Hotel Food Waste and Its Biogas Fuel Potential | |
| dc.type | Article |