In addition BMP assays can be used to estimate the optimum ratios between co-substrates when co-digestion is intended [24]. Waste has a complex composition which is difficult to describe in detail but can be readily analyzed by bulk chemical processes [2]. Some works have concluded that the organic matter composition in the substrates has a strong impact on AD performances, showing the existence of a relationship between the quantity of Belnacasan mouse methane produces and the

organic matter used, not only the biodegradable fraction but also the non-biodegradable fraction [27]. Examples of approaches for obtaining quick BMP results include the use of empirical relationships based on the chemical and biochemical composition of the material [34]. The theoretical methane potential is widely recognized in order to give an indication of the maximum methane production expected from a specific waste [2], although the experimental methane yields are often much lower than theoretical yield due to the difficulty in degrading tightly lignocellulosic material

[30]. Several methods could help to determine theoretical methane potentials based on chemical oxygen demand (COD) characterization [35]; elemental composition [32] or organic fraction composition [27]; however, these methods do not provide any information about the kinetic parameters involved in Cyclopamine molecular weight the process. It is commonly known that well-controlled batch degradation follows certain patterns that can be modeled using a mathematical expression. Therefore, another way to obtain quick BMP results, which includes the kinetic information, is the use of mathematical prediction models [34]. The objective of this research paper PRKD3 is to present and evaluate strategies for predicting the BMP of the co-digestion of OFMSW and biological sludge using several approaches and two mathematical models, to save time and costs derived from the BMP tests, and to optimize the co-digestion ratios for these two substrates

for subsequent experiments in full scale digesters. Several experiments were carried out using BMP tests at mesophilic conditions in order to evaluate the optimum ratio for the co-digestion of OFMSW and biological sludge, and thus estimate the increase or diminution of productivity from the sole substrates. A variety of co-digestion mixtures were selected for this work in order to cover all the possibilities that allow co-digestion in both real WWTP or waste treatment plants, in order to achieve the optimum conditions for obtaining the best productivity and kinetics. A synthetic substrate simulating the OFMSW and a biological sludge from the WWTP were used for the assays. In order to avoid the heterogeneity that real OFMSW can offer and thus evaluate the optimum mixture ratio for these two substrates, a synthetic OFMSW was considered. This synthetic fraction was composed of several organic and inorganic materials.