Waste Valorization by Anaerobic Digestion / Methanization

Chapter Objectives

By the end of this chapter, students will be able to:

• Define waste management and waste valorization and explain their importance for environmental protection.
• Identify the main types of organic waste that can be treated through biological processes.
• Explain the principles of biological waste treatment and distinguish between aerobic and anaerobic processes.
• Describe the main energy metabolisms involved in the biological degradation of organic matter.
• Differentiate between aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, and fermentation based on their electron acceptors, metabolic pathways, and end products.
• Explain how microorganisms obtain energy from organic matter under different environmental conditions.
• Describe the practical and environmental implications of aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms in waste treatment.
• Explain the basic principle of anaerobic digestion (methanization) as a biological process for organic waste valorization.
• Identify the potential products of organic waste treatment, particularly biogas and stabilized organic matter.
• Relate microbial metabolism to the production of useful energy and the reduction of environmental pollution.
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