Polymer Composite-Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion of Kitchen Waste for Optimised Biogas Production: Process Design, Parametric Study, and Simulation Analysis

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Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 02 | Page :
    By

    Sandeep Shewale,

  • Dipti Sakhare,

  1. Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT Academy of Engineering, Alandi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  2. Professor, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication, MIT Academy of Engineering, Alandi (D), Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

There is an urgent need for decentralised sustainable biogas production from organic waste due to the rising amount of food waste in cities. The application of polymer composite material including HDPE tanks, PVC pipes, and FRP secondary containment systems presents a promising option compared to conventional MS digester fabrication in terms of durability, excellent thermal insulation capability, light weight, and easier installation. This study explores the possibility of adopting a floating-drum digester system using polymer composite material for biogas production from kitchen waste, and analyses the impact of the key variables on the biogas production rate.

Kitchen waste comprising 30–50% of municipal solid waste in densely populated countries such as India, where annual food losses approach ₹400 billion was processed under controlled mesophilic conditions (35–40°C) as the primary feedstock. Experimental data confirmed that maintaining mesophilic temperature and a pH range of 6.8–7.5 maximised microbial activity, yielding biogas with a methane content of approximately 55–65%. Optimised substrate loading at 7% w/v and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20–30 days ensured stable digestion and consistent gas generation. Ultrasonic pretreatment at 480 W/L for 15 minutes increased substrate fermentation rates by 2.6–2.7 times compared with untreated samples. The polymer composite digester wall with thermal conductivity as low as 0.19–0.48 W/m·K depending on composite formulation reduced heat loss by up to 78% relative to bare mild-steel construction, substantially reducing the energy penalty of maintaining mesophilic temperature.

Simulation modelling of the polymer composite digester system demonstrated that retention-time-optimised operation with HDPE composite walls and PVC pipework extended cumulative biogas yield by 14–18% above the standard MS digester baseline, with the highest gains observed under combined polymer composite construction and ultrasonic pretreatment. Process parameter analysis confirmed that duty cycle optimisation at 50% and substrate loading at 7% w/v represent the dual sweet spots for sCOD solubilisation, with polymer composite enclosures reinforcing both parameters by maintaining thermal and chemical stability of the digester environment. Overall, this work demonstrates the viability of polymer composite-based decentralized biogas systems for institutional settings such as college canteens, offering a technically robust, corrosion-free, and energy-efficient route to renewable energy recovery from kitchen waste.

Keywords: Polymer composites; biogas; anaerobic digestion; kitchen waste; HDPE digester; PVC pipeline; green energy; methane; process optimisation; ultrasonic pretreatment.

How to cite this article:
Sandeep Shewale, Dipti Sakhare. Polymer Composite-Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion of Kitchen Waste for Optimised Biogas Production: Process Design, Parametric Study, and Simulation Analysis. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-.
How to cite this URL:
Sandeep Shewale, Dipti Sakhare. Polymer Composite-Enhanced Anaerobic Digestion of Kitchen Waste for Optimised Biogas Production: Process Design, Parametric Study, and Simulation Analysis. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=242184


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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
02
Received 25/04/2026
Accepted 28/04/2026
Published 30/04/2026
Publication Time 5 Days
3

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