Título:	Energy recovery from the anaerobic co-digestion of ricotta cheese whey and dairy cattle manure.
Autoria:	SANTANA, L. A. R. SILVA, G. H. da CARNEIRO, J. da C. MOTTA, I. G. B. da MENDONÇA, H. V. de OTENIO, M. H.
Afiliação:	LARICE APARECIDA REZENDE SANTANA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE JUIZ DE FORA; GUILHERME HENRIQUE DA SILVA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE VIÇOSA; JAILTON DA COSTA CARNEIRO, CNPGL; ISABELA GOMES BARRETO DA MOTTA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE JUIZ DE FORA; HENRIQUE VIEIRA DE MENDONÇA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO; MARCELO HENRIQUE OTENIO, CNPGL.
Ano de publicação:	2026
Referência:	Bioscience Journal, v. 42, e42003, 2026.
Conteúdo:	This study evaluated biogas production, methane concentration and yield, as well as the potential for energy production of anaerobic co-digestion of ricotta cheese whey and dairy cattle manure in 60 L plug flow reactors. Four reactors were operated: three with different proportions of ricotta cheese whey (20, 40, and 80%) and a control reactor containing only dairy cattle manure. The reactors were operated for 106 days, with a hydraulic retention time of 30 days. In all reactors, pH remained near neutrality, and alkalinity stayed above 2,500 mg L⁻¹. Notably, only the reactor with 80% ricotta cheese whey demonstrated more efficient removal of total solids, volatile solids, biochemical oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand, with average reductions of 54, 69, 69, and 78%, respectively. However, the reactor operated with 40% ricotta cheese whey produced the highest accumulated biogas volume, surpassing the 80% ricotta cheese whey reactor by 36 L, with a realistic extrapolation of electricity production estimated at 1.67 kWh m- ³. Although methane yields were close to theoretical maximum values and methane concentrations showed no significant differences between treatments, the results confirm the effectiveness of anaerobic co-digestion in the treating of agro-industrial waste. The 40% ricotta cheese whey and 60% dairy cattle manure ratio stands as a promising alternative for biogas production.
Thesagro:	Laticínio Indústria Resíduo
Palavras-chave:	Energia alternativa Bioprocesso Energia renovável
Digital Object Identifier:	https://doi.org/10.14393/BJ-v42n0a2026-75046
Tipo do material:	Artigo de periódico
Acesso:	openAccess
Aparece nas coleções:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPGL)