Modeling of the methane production and pH value during the anaerobic co-digestion of dairy manure and spent mushroom substrate

• ADM1 was used to predict anaerobic co-digestion of DM and SMS under different HRT.
• SMS was divided into inert part as well as biodegradation parts of SHF and RHF.
• The model assesses combined effects of HRT and DM–SMS ratio on the methane and pH.

A dynamic mathematical model, based on the IWA Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1), was used to predict the methane production and pH value during anaerobic co-digestion of dairy manure (DM) and spent mushroom substrate (SMS) under different hydraulic retention times (HRT). In this model the degradation of DM was modeled according to classical ADM1, while SMS was divided into inert part as well as biodegradation parts of slowly hydrolysable fraction (SHF) and readily hydrolysable fraction (RHF). The data from lab-scale experiment was used to calibrate and validate this model. The results showed that the model was able to predict reasonably well the steady-state results of methane production and pH value at HRT of 12, 20 and 28 d. The results also indicated that the model suitability to assess the combined effects of HRT and substrate ratio on the methane production and pH value.