Optimization of Food Waste Bioevaporation Process Using Response Surface Methodology

A proven bioevaporation process was used to treat food waste (FW) by mixing ground FW with biodried sludge (BS). Organic loading (OL), moisture content (MC), and air flow rate (Q(g)) showed significant influences on FW bioevaporation performance. Single-parameter experiments for MC and Q(g) were conducted and ranges were determined to be 55-67wt% and 0.04-0.14m(3)/kg TS(mixture)h, respectively. In order to optimize the FW bioevaporation process, a central composite design (CCD) and response surface method (RSM) were applied over the preselected ranges of OL (0.00-0.16kg VSFW/kg TSBS), MC (50.91-71.09wt%), and Q(g) (0.01-0.17m(3)/kg TS(mixture)h). The results indicated that OL of 0.06kg VSFW/kg TSBS, MC of 59.2wt%, and Q(g) of 0.09m(3)/kg TS(mixture)h were the optimal conditions for the FW bioevaporation process. Water evaporation of 123.1% and VS degradation of 108.4% were obtained under these estimated optimal conditions.