Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the methane production potential of campus cafeteria catering waste through anaerobic digestion by using the theoretical and experimental methods. Based on the principle of conservation of chemical oxygen demand, the theoretical methane production rate of campus catering waste was estimated to be 446.7 mL/gVS（Volatile solid）, with dissolved carbohydrates and proteins contributing 33.8% of methane production. Using the experimental method, anaerobic batch fermentation experiments with campus catering waste as substrate obtained the cumulative methane yield of 363.5 mL/gVS, which was lower than the theoretical estimation value. According to the estimation results with the experimental method, it was calculated that the methane production of campus catering waste in Tianjin city could reach 2 264.2 m³/d, indicating that the potential for methane production through anaerobic digestion of campus catering waste is enormous and has practical value.

Key words: campus catering waste, methane production potential, theoretical estimation, experimental estimation