This research intended to evaluate the effect of different chemical pre-treatments on potato peel
waste, in conditions for mesophilic digestion. The waste was subjected to a mechanical pretreatment
that consisted in triturating until its size was inferior to 2 mm. A thermal pretreatment
was applied, at 50 ºC during 30 minutes, at atmospheric pressure, and combined with
chemical pre-treatment with sulphuric acid, at pH 2 and 4, or sodium hydroxide, at pH 10 and
12. These assays were identified by codes A2.50.30, A4.50.30, A10.50.30 and A12.50.30,
respectively. In the control assay, At50.30, the waste was triturated and subjected to thermal
pre-treatment without undergoing chemical pre-treatment. Assay A12.50.30 presented the
highest values of total COD and soluble COD, with increases of 15.8% and 42.8%, respectively,
over the test assay.