Bacterial contamination of food is a global concern. Methods of treating bacterial contamination are limited. Bacteriophages, bacterial viruses, offer a promising solution. However, bacteriophages may have limited application for foods that undergo sterilization processing, are inhospitable to organisms, or must be maintained in a dry state. This thesis focused on methods to expand the application of bacteriophages. First, bacteriophages were subjected to generalized stresses of desiccation, heat, and acidity, under laboratory conditions to propagate new populations with improved stress resistance. However, testing of these stress-resistant populations under real-world conditions failed to produce results comparable to generalized laboratory conditions. Success in the application of selected bacteriophages may require high situational specificity during selection, including in terms of food matrix and stress mechanics. The focus of our research shifted from the modification of bacteriophage populations themselves to the development of food-safe protective matrices. Designed matrices encapsulate bacteriophage for integration with modern food production and even the food products themselves. A pullulan-trehalose sugar powder was developed for the protection of a model bacteriophage from pasteurization. Microparticles were engineered such that the majority of the particle would be composed of trehalose as a stabilizer and polysaccharide pullulan was designed to accumulate at the particle surface to slow dissolution. This structure resulted in a bacteriophage powder that remained intact and protective over short-term high-temperature pasteurization, whereas unprotected bacteriophage experienced significant loss in titer. Leucine-lactose and leucine-lactose-maltodextrin microparticles were engineered for the inclusion of bacteriophage in powdered infant formula. The bacteriophage powder was designed as a dormant protection system that could activate upon reconstitution. The excipient system was formulated to not significantly affect the pH, composition, and dissolution of commercial infant formula. The bacteriophage powder was also engineered to match the shelf life and secondary shelf life of infant formula. Altogether, this thesis demonstrates that bacteriophage application in different foods can be expanded through particle engineering. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Bacterial contamination of food can lead to widespread outbreaks and subsequent preventable deaths. Our best tool against bacteria, antibiotics, cannot be widely applied to food for risk to the natural human biome and creation of resistant bacteria. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, are a naturally occurring bactericide that offer an alternative solution. This thesis focuses on improving the application of bacteriophages in food. First, bacteriophages are selected for resistance to common food processing stresses, such as heat, drying, and acidity, to prepare future generations that are stress-resistant. Second, a protective sugar powder was designed that could be used to add bacteriophages to milk before pasteurization. Post-pasteurization, the sugar would dissolve and release bacteriophage into the milk to deal with any post-processing contamination. Lastly, an infant-safe bacteriophage powder was developed that could be intermixed with powdered infant formula in an effort to reduce infant death due to the ingestion of bacteria.

The aim of this study was to examine how manure-derived value-added products via anaerobic digestion impact the environment and economics of dairy farming. An on-farm anaerobic digester (AD) at Virginia dairy was used in this study. The AD performance evaluated for: (i) biogas production (ii) waste stabilization; and (iii) production of organic fertilizer. Locally available organic waste streams were evaluated for co-digestion with dairy manure to increase biomethane production at the on-farm AD. The effective pasteurization temperature and duration to reduce fecal coliform, E. coli, and Salmonella concentrations in the AD effluent to acceptable levels for use as an organic fertilizer were determined. A partial environmental and economic analysis was conducted on the AD system to determine its effects on the environmental-economic sustainability of dairy farming. The results showed that the manure-derived value-added products from the AD improved environmental health and had the potential to improve the economic sustainability of the dairy farm. The AD stabilized the manure adequately and produced 400 KW of electricity, enough to power 230 US homes. Blending manure with locally available organic materials increased volatile fatty acid production, suggesting the potential to increase biomethane yields. Pasteurization at 70°C is sufficient to reduce pathogen indicating organisms to acceptable levels for the manure to be used as an organic fertilizer. The payback periods range from 4.6 to 11.8 years for the AD investment costs and reductions in direct manure methane emissions of 2,436 tonnes CO2e per year. / Master of Science

no / A milk pasteurization process is a nonlinear process and multivariable interacting system. This makes it difficultly to control by the conventional on-off controllers. Even if the on-off controller can managed the milk temperatures in the holding tube and the cooling stage of the plate pasteurizer according to the plant's requirements, the dynamic profiles of the milk temperature are oscillating around a desired value. Consequently, this work is aimed at improving the control performance by a multi-variables control approach with model predictive control (MPC). The proposed algorithm was tested in the case of set point tracking under nominal condition gathered by the real observation. To compare the performance of the MPC controller, a model-based control approach of generic model control (GMC) coupled with cascade control strategy is taken into account. The simulation results demonstrated that a proposed control algorithm performed well in keeping both the milk and water temperatures at the desired set points without any oscillation and overshoot. Because of the predictive control strategy, the control response for MPC was less drastic control action compared to the GMC.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram obter um processo de pasteurização da polpa de juçara embalada em bolsas plásticas (100 mL) de alta, a fim de minimizar a degradação das antocianinas, mantendo as propriedades nutricionais e organolépticas do produto, com viabilidade técnica e econômica para as comunidades tradicionais e agricultores familiares. Para tanto se avaliou a degradação da antocianina e a atividade enzimática presente na polpa de juçara, submetida à acidificação e pasteurização depois de embalada; armazenada por 60 dias; e monitorou-se a qualidade da polpa mediante análises físicas, químicas e sensoriais. A polpa foi acidificada com ácido cítrico a pH 4,0. A outra parte não sofreu processo de acidificação. Em seguida, a polpa foi embalada em sacos de polipropileno diferenciado. Por fim, as polpas, acidificadas com ácido cítrico a pH abaixo de 4,0 e não acidificada, foram submetidas aos seguintes tratamentos: armazenada sob refrigeração a 6 °C; armazenada sob congelamento a -17 °C; pasteurizada a 80 °C por 5 minutos e armazenada sob refrigeração a 6 °C; pasteurizada a 80 °C por 5 minutos e armazenada sob congelamento a -17 °C; Num segundo momento, após a realização das análises do primeiro processo, a polpa embalada foi pasteurizada em tacho com aquecimento a gás, com água à temperatura de fervura - 97°C. A polpa foi mantida a esta temperatura por um (1) minuto. A acidificação e armazenamento foram realizados da mesma forma que no primeiro processo. A polpa de juçara manteve-se estável por 45 dias de armazenamento refrigerado e congelado para todos os tratamentos. Sensorialmente, não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos. Considerando-se a estabilidade da polpa, sua aceitação sensorial e o uso da refrigeração como alternativa ao congelamento, a pasteurização em tacho a 97°C se torna uma possibilidade às comunidades extrativistas. / The objectives of this study were to obtain a pasteurization process the juçara pulp packed in plastic bags (100 mL) high barrier in order to minimize anthocyanin\'s degradation, maintaining the organoleptic and nutritional properties of the product, technical and economic feasibility for the traditional communities and family farmers. For that we evaluated the anthocyanin\'s degradation and the enzymatic activity present in the juçara pulp, subjected to acidification, after pasteurization packed; stored for 60 days; and monitored to pulp quality by physical, chemical and sensory analysis. The pulp was acidified with citric acid to pH 4.0. The other part has not undergone the process of acidification. Then the pulp was packed in bags of different polypropylene. Finally, pulps, acidified with citric acid at pH below 4.0 and not acidified were treated as follows: stored under refrigeration at 6 ° C, stored in a freezer at -17 ° C, pasteurized at 80 ° C for 5 minutes and stored in a refrigerator at 6 ° C, pasteurized at 80 ° C for 5 minutes and stored under freezing at -17 ° C. Subsequently, after the analyzes of the first process, the pulp was pasteurized in packaged pot with heating the gas with water at boiling temperature - 97 ° C. The pulp was held at this temperature for one (1) minute. Acidification and storage were carried out in the same way as the first process.The juçara pulp remained stable for 45 days of cold and frozen storage for all treatments. No significant difference was found between treatments by sensorial analysis. Considering the stability of the pulp, its sensory acceptance and use of alternative freezing cooling, the packet pasteurization becomes a possibility by extractive communities.

A pasteurização é um processo térmico para inativar micro-organismos patogênicos e deterioradores em alimentos líquidos. O controle do processo é fundamental para a manutenção da temperatura de pasteurização, de forma que a modelagem dinâmica se torna útil no desenvolvimento, nos testes de controladores e nos procedimentos de operação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o desenvolvimento e a validação experimental da modelagem dinâmica de um pasteurizador a placas com três seções de troca térmica para estudar sua operação em regime transiente. A modelagem consiste em balanços diferenciais de energia entre canais e placas do trocador, perda de calor para o ambiente do tubo de retenção e conexões e as respectivas condições iniciais e de contorno. Os coeficientes de troca térmica do equipamento foram determinados experimentalmente. Na simulação foram adotados métodos de diferenças finitas e a resolução matemática foi realizada através do software gPROMS. O modelo foi aplicado para representar o comportamento de um pasteurizador a placas de escala laboratorial (Armfield FT43A), operando em duas condições: sem e com a influência da incrustação na seção de aquecimento do trocador. Para a validação do modelo foram realizados ensaios experimentais da partida e de perturbação das vazões de alimentação do processo. Foram inseridos termopares em diversos pontos do equipamento e as temperaturas foram registradas com um sistema de aquisição de dados. Para estudar a influência da incrustação na pasteurização, foram realizados ensaios experimentais com dois tipos de leite para se ter alta e baixa incrustação. As placas do trocador foram pesadas e fotografadas antes e depois dos ensaios de incrustação para avaliar o depósito formado. Foram utilizados modelos genéricos de incrustação para a simulação desse efeito sobre o processo de pasteurização. Através da comparação dos resultados experimentais e simulados foi verificada que a modelagem matemática para a operação transiente do processo de pasteurização analisado foi muito satisfatória. / Pasteurization is a thermal process used to inactivate pathogenic and deteriorative microorganisms in liquid foods. Process control is essential for the temperature maintenance of pasteurization, so that the dynamic model is an important tool in the development, controller tests, and also in the procedure of operation. The aim of this work was the development and experimental validation of the dynamic model of a plate pasteurizer with three sections of heat exchange studying the transient state operation. The model consists of differential equations of thermal energy balance between channels and plates of heat exchanger, heat loss to the environment of the holding tube and connections and their respective initial and boundary conditions. The heat transfer coefficients of plate heat exchanger and tubes were determined experimentally. In the simulation, finite difference methods were adopted and the math solving was performed using the gPROMS software. The model was applied to represent the behavior of a plate pasteurizer in laboratory scale (Armfield FT43A), operating in two conditions: free of fouling and with fouling influence on the heating section of the heat exchanger. Experimental tests of the start-up and of disturbances in flow rates of the process were performed for the model validation. Thermocouples were inserted at various points of the equipment and the temperatures were recorded with a data acquisition system. In order to study the influence of the fouling, experimental tests were performed with two kinds of milk to obtain high and low fouling. Plates of the heat exchanger were weighed and photographed before and after of the fouling tests for evaluate the deposit formed. Generic models of fouling were used to simulate the effect of fouling on the pasteurization process. Through the comparison of experimental and simulated results, it was verified that the mathematical modeling for the transient operation of the pasteurization process was very satisfactory.

No presente projeto, foi estudada a viabilidade do uso da lata de alumínio como embalagem para suco de laranja natural submetido a tratamento térmico mínimo, através de ensaios de vida de prateleira durante um período de 57 dias, com armazenamento em geladeira. O suco foi processado em trocador de calor tipo placas às temperaturas nominais de pasteurização de 80ºC e 85ºC e embalado à temperatura ambiente sob atmosfera de nitrogênio em latas de alumínio revestidas com verniz protetor. As análises foram efetuadas na freqüência de 14 dias (1º, 15º, 29º, 43º e 57º dia após o processamento). As respostas analisadas foram pH, ºBrix, acidez titulável, “ratio"(ºBrix/acidez titulável), sólidos totais, sólidos insolúveis e detecção de íons alumínio e análises microbiológicas (contagem total de bactérias mesofílicas e contagem de leveduras e bolores). As análises de variância dos resultados indicaram que as condições de processo reais estudadas (82,5ºC - 35 s; 82,5ºC - 45 s; 87,5ºC - 35 s e 87,5ºC - 45 s) não influenciaram as características físico-químicas do suco (pH, ºBrix, acidez titulável, “ratio"). Durante o período de armazenamento testado (57 dias), foi verificado que não houve aumento do conteúdo de íons alumínio no suco de laranja e os valores encontrados foram abaixo do limite tolerado de ingestão semanal de alumínio (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake – PTWI) estabelecido pela FAO/WHO. Sob o aspecto microbiológico (contagem total de bactérias mesofílicas e contagem de leveduras e bolores), foi verificada a eficiência do processo de pasteurização. Para as condições de processo 82,5ºC – 45 s e 87,5ºC – 45 s, o número de bactérias mesofílicas sobreviventes diminuiu com o tempo de armazenamento. Para as condições 82,5ºC – 35 s e 87,5ºC – 35 s, houve aumento do número de sobreviventes a partir do 23º dia e 33ºdia, respectivamente, em relação ao suco não-processado. As condições de processo empregadas indicaram, no período de armazenamento testado (57 dias), valores de contagem de leveduras e bolores inferiores ao limite máximo tolerado pela Legislação Brasileira para suco “in natura" (104 UFC/mL). / In this research project, minimal heat treatment was studied for fresh single- strength orange juice. The juice was packaged in aluminum cans and stored at refrigerated temperature during 57 days concerning shelf life tests. The juice was processed using a plate heat exchanger at nominal pasteurization temperatures 80ºC and 85ºC and packaged in aluminum varnished cans at ambient temperature, under nitrogen atmosphere. The analyses, conducted each 14 days (1st, 15th, 29th, 43rd and 57th day after the processing day), were: pH, ºBrix, titratable acidity as citric acid, ratio (ºBrix/ titratable acidity), total solids, water-insoluble solids, aluminum ions content and microbiological analyses (total plate count and yeast and mold count). Statistical analyses indicated that the physic-chemical characteristics of orange juice were not influenced by the real process conditions (82.5ºC - 35 s; 82.5ºC - 45 s; 87.5ºC - 35 s and 87.5ºC - 45 s). The orange juice aluminum ions content did not increase during the 57 days storage and all the values were lower than the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) established by FAO/WHO. In addition, the pasteurization process showed effective in reducing microbial load. For the temperature-time conditions 82.5ºC - 45 s and 87.5ºC - 45 s, the number of surviving organisms decreased as the storage period increased. However for the temperature-time conditions 82.5ºC - 35 s and 87.5ºC - 35 s, there was an increase of the number of surviving organisms after 23rd day and 33rd day, respectively, compared to raw orange juice. During the 57 days storage, the yeast and mold count were lower than the maximum acceptable limit established by Brazilian Legislation (104 CFU/mL).

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram obter um processo de pasteurização da polpa de juçara embalada em bolsas plásticas (100 mL) de alta, a fim de minimizar a degradação das antocianinas, mantendo as propriedades nutricionais e organolépticas do produto, com viabilidade técnica e econômica para as comunidades tradicionais e agricultores familiares. Para tanto se avaliou a degradação da antocianina e a atividade enzimática presente na polpa de juçara, submetida à acidificação e pasteurização depois de embalada; armazenada por 60 dias; e monitorou-se a qualidade da polpa mediante análises físicas, químicas e sensoriais. A polpa foi acidificada com ácido cítrico a pH 4,0. A outra parte não sofreu processo de acidificação. Em seguida, a polpa foi embalada em sacos de polipropileno diferenciado. Por fim, as polpas, acidificadas com ácido cítrico a pH abaixo de 4,0 e não acidificada, foram submetidas aos seguintes tratamentos: armazenada sob refrigeração a 6 °C; armazenada sob congelamento a -17 °C; pasteurizada a 80 °C por 5 minutos e armazenada sob refrigeração a 6 °C; pasteurizada a 80 °C por 5 minutos e armazenada sob congelamento a -17 °C; Num segundo momento, após a realização das análises do primeiro processo, a polpa embalada foi pasteurizada em tacho com aquecimento a gás, com água à temperatura de fervura - 97°C. A polpa foi mantida a esta temperatura por um (1) minuto. A acidificação e armazenamento foram realizados da mesma forma que no primeiro processo. A polpa de juçara manteve-se estável por 45 dias de armazenamento refrigerado e congelado para todos os tratamentos. Sensorialmente, não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos. Considerando-se a estabilidade da polpa, sua aceitação sensorial e o uso da refrigeração como alternativa ao congelamento, a pasteurização em tacho a 97°C se torna uma possibilidade às comunidades extrativistas. / The objectives of this study were to obtain a pasteurization process the juçara pulp packed in plastic bags (100 mL) high barrier in order to minimize anthocyanin\'s degradation, maintaining the organoleptic and nutritional properties of the product, technical and economic feasibility for the traditional communities and family farmers. For that we evaluated the anthocyanin\'s degradation and the enzymatic activity present in the juçara pulp, subjected to acidification, after pasteurization packed; stored for 60 days; and monitored to pulp quality by physical, chemical and sensory analysis. The pulp was acidified with citric acid to pH 4.0. The other part has not undergone the process of acidification. Then the pulp was packed in bags of different polypropylene. Finally, pulps, acidified with citric acid at pH below 4.0 and not acidified were treated as follows: stored under refrigeration at 6 ° C, stored in a freezer at -17 ° C, pasteurized at 80 ° C for 5 minutes and stored in a refrigerator at 6 ° C, pasteurized at 80 ° C for 5 minutes and stored under freezing at -17 ° C. Subsequently, after the analyzes of the first process, the pulp was pasteurized in packaged pot with heating the gas with water at boiling temperature - 97 ° C. The pulp was held at this temperature for one (1) minute. Acidification and storage were carried out in the same way as the first process.The juçara pulp remained stable for 45 days of cold and frozen storage for all treatments. No significant difference was found between treatments by sensorial analysis. Considering the stability of the pulp, its sensory acceptance and use of alternative freezing cooling, the packet pasteurization becomes a possibility by extractive communities.

A pasteurização do leite é obrigatória no Brasil e o sistema lento (65ºC/30 minutos) é o mais empregado na fabricação de queijos. Os parâmetros de tempo e temperatura empregados no mundo foram definidos após estudos sobre a resistência térmica do Mycobacterium tuberculosis e da Coxiella burnetti, reconhecidos como os microrganismos patogênicos, não formadores de esporos e que eventualmente podem estar presentes no leite cru, que apresentam a maior resistência térmica. Entretanto, não há estudos sobre a resistência térmica do M. bovis que circula nos bovinos no Brasil. Este estudo propôs-se a avaliar a resistência térmica (65ºC) de cinco espoligotipos de M. bovis, isolados de bovinos abatidos no estado de São Paulo, em leite integral experimentalmente contaminado. Leite UHT foi contaminado com M. bovis e, então, submetido a tratamento térmico em banho-maria a 65ºC por 30 minutos. Cada espoligotipo foi testado 3 vezes. As amostras foram retiradas do banho nos tempos 0 (o momento em que o leite atingiu 65ºC), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 e 30 correspondendo ao tempo, em minutos, de tratamento térmico. O leite contaminado também foi analisado, para quantificação da carga inicial. O controle do processo envolveu o acompanhamento da temperatura do leite (um tubo com termômetro) e análise das enzimas fosfatase alcalina e peroxidase ao final do tratamento; para tal, amostras de leite cru foram tratadas juntamente com as amostras-teste. Para quantificação, foi realizada a diluição decimal seriada seguida da semeadura em duplicata em meio Stonebrink-Leslie (37ºC/45dias). Os resultados mostraram que foi na fase de aquecimento que ocorreu a maior taxa de morte. Houve diferença de resistência entre os espoligotipos ao processo que simulou a pasteurização lenta e o BR024 foi o mais resistente. Conclui-se que houve diferença da eficácia da pasteurização, de acordo com o espoligotipo testado, mas que os resultados precisam ser melhor investigados. / Milk pasteurization is mandatory in Brazil and the Low Temperature Long Time - LTLT - Pasteurization (62 to 65°C/30 min.) is normally used for cheese making. Permitted parameters were based on the reports of Myconbacterium bovis/tuberculosis inactivation made up to that time. Since then, just a few studies have been done to determine if the M. bovis in circulation nowadays among bovine population still presents the same pattern of inactivation. In this way, this study verified the behavior of recently isolated M. bovis against LTLT Pasteurization parameters reproduced in water bath. M. bovis isolated from bovines slaughtered in São Paulo State, Brazil. When milk reached 65°C the 0 tube was removed and refrigerated while the others taken out after 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes and cooled. For controlling heat treatment a thermometer was adapted to one tube with 5 ml each of raw milk which were submitted together to heat treatment and used for analysis of peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes after 30 minutes of heat treatment. Milk samples were submitted to serial decimal dilution in peptone water (0.1%) and inoculated in the Stonebrink-Leslie media. After 45 days at 37°C, colonies were counted and the result expressed in CFU/ml. The results showed that heating phase determined more inactivation than the holding phase. The resentence was different between the spoligotypes that simulated the low pasteurization and BR024 was more resentence. The results enable us to speculate that in the worst scenario of natural contamination of the milk.

O principal objetivo do trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de um modelo matemático de um pasteurizador a placas visando a determinação da distribuição de temperatura e de letalidade ao longo dos canais do trocador de calor em todas as suas seções, nas conexões tubulares e no tubo de retenção para a avaliação do decaimento logarítmico da concentração de um microorganismo alvo ou da atividade de uma enzima alvo em um processo de pasteurização contínua. A modelagem matemática foi composta pelo balanço diferencial de energia e letalidade nos canais do trocador, no tubo de retenção e nas suas conexões, levando em conta a perda de calor para o ambiente nos tubos. O modelo construído apresentou um conjunto de equações diferenciais ordinárias de primeira ordem e sua resolução foi feita pelo método das diferenças finitas usando o software gPROMS. Um estudo de caso foi analisado e a modelagem descreveu de forma coerente o processo térmico e a letalidade e futuramente ela poderá ser utilizada para a otimização do processo de pasteurização em trocadores de calor a placas, visando a obtenção de produtos seguros e de alta qualidade. A verificação do processo de pasteurização que o modelo desenvolvido contempla foi realizada a partir da validação experimental utilizando um integrador tempo-temperatura e ensaios laboratoriais com indicador enzimático (fosfatase alcalina em tampão fosfato), que mostraram que o modelo desenvolvido se aproxima de maneira satisfatória dos resultados reais. / The main objective of this study was to develop a mathematical model in a plate pasteurizer in order to determine the temperature and lethality distribution along the channels of the heat exchanger in all its sections, in tubular connections and holding tube evaluating the logarithmic decay in concentration of a target microorganism or enzyme activity in a continuous pasteurization process. Mathematical modeling was composed of the differential energy balance and lethality in the channels of the exchanger, the holding tube and its connections, taking into account the heat loss to the environment in the tubes. The constructed model presented a set of ordinary differential equations of first order and its resolution was made by the finite difference method using the gPROMS software. A case study was analyzed and the modeling described the thermal and the lethality process very well and in the future it can be used to optimize the process of pasteurization in plate heat exchangers, aiming the achievement of safe and with high quality products. A verification of the pasteurization process that the model developed contemplates has been performed based on experimental validation using time-temperature integrator and testing with enzymatic indicator (alkaline phosphatase in phosphate buffer), which showed that the model developed satisfactorily approximates the actual results.

Under år 2008 användes globalt en energimängd motsvarande nästan 144 000 TWh ochav dessa stod fossila bränslen för 81 %. I Sverige uppgick energitillförseln under år2010 till totalt 616 TWh och av detta stod råolja/oljeprodukter för 30,4 %. Vidförbränning av fossila bränslen frigörs koldioxid, en gas som bidrar till att förstärkaväxthuseffekten. År 2000 uppmättes halten av koldioxid i atmosfären till 370 ppmv ochför att den globala temperaturen inte ska öka med mer än 2°C bör halten stanna på 450ppmv innan år 2100. Ett sätt att minska andelen av fossila bränslen är att öka andelen avförnybara energikällor, som t.ex. biogas, som i Sverige uppskattas kunna ge enenergimängd motsvarande 10-15 TWh/år i framtiden.Vid biogasanläggningen Kungsängens gård, Uppsala, samrötas slakteriavfall samtorganiskt avfall från hushåll och livsmedelsindustri i en termofil rötningsprocess. Underår 2011 producerades ca 3 400 000 Nm3 biogas och den största andelen uppgraderadestill fordonsgas. Behovet fordonsgas i Uppsala ökar och i detta examensarbete utreddestvå sätt att effektivisera processen och öka gasproduktionen. Dels undersöktes om enökad belastning skulle ge en ökad biogasproduktion utan att riskera processensstabilitet. Detta gjordes i två labskalereaktorer där belastningen ökades gradvis i denena. Dels studerades möjligheten att minska energiförbrukningen på anläggningengenom att byta hygieniseringsmetod. Innan substratet matas in i rötkamrarna måste dethygieniseras, vilket i dagsläget görs genom pastörisering (upphettning till 70oC under entimme). Då detta är väldigt energikrävande finns det planer på att byta metod ochistället låta substratet hygieniseras i rötkamrarna (52°C) i minst 10 timmar. Det är dockviktigt att beakta huruvida metanpotentialen för pastöriserat och opastöriserat materialskiljer sig åt, varför detta utreddes i sk satsvisa utrötningsförsök.Genom hela belastningsökningen (från 3 till 6 kg VS/m3,d) ökade biogasproduktionenoch vid den högsta belastningen var ökningen 100 % jämfört med dagens nivå. Andraviktiga processparametrar, så som specifik gasproduktion, kvoten CO2/CH4, pH,halterna av fettsyror och utrötningsgraden, låg på en jämn nivå under försöket, vilkettyder på att processen var stabil trots den ökade belastningen. Utrötningsförsöket visadeatt pastöriseringen inte hade någon effekt på metanproduktionen, troligtvis eftersomsubstratet redan var lättnedbrytbart. Beräkningen av energiförbrukning visade attenergianvändningen skulle minska med ca 33 % vid byte av hygieniseringsmetod. / During 2008 an amount of energy equivalent to almost 144,000 TWh was used globally,of which fossil fuels accounted for 81 %. In Sweden, during 2010, an amount of energyequivalent to 616 TWh was used, of which crude oil/oil products accounted for 30.4 %.Carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes to the global warming, is produced during thecombustion of fossil fuels. In 2000 the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere wasmeasured to be 370 ppmv and if the global temperature is not to increase with morethan 2°C, the levels should stay at 450 ppmv by 2100. One way of decreasing the use offossil fuels is to increase the use of renewable energy, such as biogas. In the futurebiogas can, approx., provide with energy equivalent to 10-15 TWh/year in Sweden.At the biogas plant Kungsängens gård, in Uppsala, slaughterhouse byproducts are codigestedwith source separated household waste and waste from the food processingindustry in a thermophilic process. During the year 2011 approximately 3,400,000 Nm3of biogas was produced at the plant, of which most was upgraded to vehicle fuel. Theconsumption of vehicle fuel is increasing in Uppsala and thus there is a need forincreased biogas production. The aim of this master thesis was to investigate two waysto increase the efficiency and consequently the gas production at the biogas plant atKungsängens gård. Firstly, it was studied if an increased organic loading rate (OLR)would give an increased biogas production, without disturbing the process. This wasdone in two lab scale reactors, where the load was increased gradually in one. Secondly,the possibility to decrease the energy consumption by means of a change of sanitizationmethod was studied. The substrate has to be sanitized before it is fed to the digesters,currently this is done by pasteurization. This process is, however, energy-demandingand there are plans to change the method of sanitization. It is, however, important toconsider whether the methane potential differs for the pasteurized and the nonpasteurizedsubstrate. This was studied in small scale biogas batch reactors.Through all stages of increased OLR (from 3 to 6 kg VS/m3, d) the biogas productionincreased, and at the largest load the increase was 100 % compared to the present level.Other important process parameters, such as specific methane production, CO2/CH4-ratio, pH, levels of fatty acids and degree of digestion, were at regular levels and thisindicates that the process was maintained stable in spite of the increased load. The testin the small scale biogas batch reactors showed that pasteurization of the substrate hadno effect on the methane potential, probably due to that the substrate already is readilybiodegradable. The estimation of the energy consumption showed that the use of energyshould decrease with approx. 33 % if the sanitization was replaced.