A Comprehensive Review of the Key Factors Affecting Biogas Production From Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Waste

Abstract

ABSTRACT Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a well‐established technique that provides numerous advantages, including efficient waste treatment and the concurrent generation of renewable energy. Multiple factors can considerably influence the efficiency of biogas production in AD systems. Nevertheless, understanding the fundamental principles of AD and identifying the key factors that affect biogas generation efficiency is critical. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the key factors influencing the AD process and a narrative review of current literature to understand progress in this field. The current review focuses on biogas production processes, particularly those involving organic waste. Subsequently, the factors affecting the AD process, such as feedstock composition, pretreatment methods, operational parameters, reactor design, and microbial community dynamics, were detailed. This review highlights that AD remains a viable solution for waste management and renewable energy production, with significant potential for efficiency improvement through optimized operating conditions, advanced reactor designs, and innovative pretreatment and microbial strategies. Moreover, the review shows that while combined pretreatment strategies may have synergistic effects on AD, their industrial adoption still requires standardized frameworks and adaptive, multi‐parameter control systems for variable organic waste. This review contributes to a better understanding of AD as a viable solution to the waste crisis, while also considering its implications for sustainability.