Major
Environmental Science
Anticipated Graduation Year
2024
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
This project aims to identify the effect of food particle size on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) to maximize the functionality of aerobic digestion in collaboration with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and implement this bioprocess at Loyola University Chicago’s Lakeshore Campus. Food waste will be collected from Damen Dining Hall and ground to various particle samples. Samples will be seeded with a microbial community and enter an aerobic digestion process followed by BOD and TSS testing. Our work will advance Loyola’s sustainability goals by reducing the costs of sending food waste through the sewer system.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Zach Waickman, Searle Biodiesel Lab Manager, SES
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Aerobic Digestion: Characterizing the Effects of Food Particle Size on Reduction of BOD and TSS Prior to Discharge in the Municipal Sewer
This project aims to identify the effect of food particle size on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) to maximize the functionality of aerobic digestion in collaboration with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and implement this bioprocess at Loyola University Chicago’s Lakeshore Campus. Food waste will be collected from Damen Dining Hall and ground to various particle samples. Samples will be seeded with a microbial community and enter an aerobic digestion process followed by BOD and TSS testing. Our work will advance Loyola’s sustainability goals by reducing the costs of sending food waste through the sewer system.