Anaerobic digestion of dairy cow manure (CM), the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW),
and cotton gin waste (CGW) was investigated with a two-phase pilot-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) system.
The OFMSW and CM were digested as single wastes and as combined wastes. The single waste
digestion of CM resulted in 62 m3 methane/ton of CM on dry weight basis. The single waste digestion
of OFMSW produced 37 m3 methane/ton of dry waste. Co-digestion of OFMSW and CM resulted in
172 m3 methane/ton of dry waste. Co-digestion of CGW and CM produced 87 m3 methane/ton of dry
waste. Comparing the single waste digestions with co-digestion of combined wastes, it was shown that
co-digestion resulted in higher methane gas yields. In addition, co-digestion of OFMSW and CM promotes
synergistic effects resulting in higher mass conversion and lower weight and volume of digested residual.
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