Factors maximizing biogas yield in anaerobic digestion of agro-industrial wastes: A systematic review (2015-2025)

Authors

  • Andressa Caroline de Sousa Universidade Federal de Goiás
  • Nora Katia Saavedra del Aguila Hoffmann Universidade Federal de Goiás

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36560/19520262281

Keywords:

co-digestion, pretreatment, methane, biomass

Abstract

Agro-industrial waste has significant potential as a feedstock for biogas production, contributing to both energy generation and waste recovery. This study aimed to analyze the scientific literature published between 2015 and 2025 on biogas production from agro-industrial waste, identifying which co-substrate combinations, mixture proportions, and pretreatment strategies are associated with the highest biogas yields. A systematic literature review was conducted using the Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, accessed through the Capes Journal Portal, applying boolean search operators and explicit eligibility criteria; after screening 351 records, 130 articles were retained for analysis. Results show an exponential growth in publications over the period, led by Brazil, India, and Italy. Anaerobic co-digestion of easily degradable substrates with more recalcitrant lignocellulosic residues produced the largest relative gains over mono-digestion, while a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio between 20:1 and 30:1 was consistently associated with the best performance. Physical, thermochemical, and biological pretreatments increased methane yield by 16% to 222%. It is concluded that, although anaerobic digestion is a technically mature process, critical gaps remain regarding standardization of yield units, comparability among studies, and economic feasibility indicators.

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Published

2026-08-28

How to Cite

de Sousa, A. C., & Hoffmann, N. K. S. del A. (2026). Factors maximizing biogas yield in anaerobic digestion of agro-industrial wastes: A systematic review (2015-2025). Scientific Electronic Archives, 19(5), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.36560/19520262281

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Vol. 19 No. 5 (2026): Scientific Electronic Archives

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Agricultural Science

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