Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests: Reducing test time by early parameter estimation

Biochemical methane potential (BMP) test is a key analytical technique to assess the implementation and optimisation of anaerobic biotechnologies. However, this technique is characterised by long testing times (from 20 to >100 days), which is not suitable for waste utilities, consulting companies or plants operators whose decision-making processes cannot be held for such a long time. This study develops a statistically robust mathematical strategy using sensitivity functions for early prediction of BMP first-order model parameters, i.e. methane yield (B0) and kinetic constant rate (k). The minimum testing time for early parameter estimation showed a potential correlation with the k value, where (i) slowly biodegradable substrates (k ≤ 0.1 d−1) have a minimum testing times of ≥15 days, (ii) moderately biodegradable substrates (0.1 < k < 0.2 d−1) have a minimum testing times between 8 and 15 days, and (iii) rapidly biodegradable substrates (k ≥ 0.2 d−1) have testing times lower than 7 days.