Estimation of Solid Waste Biomethanization: Development of Novel Methodology and Anfis Models

Abstract

& This article presents the application of a technique of artificial intelligence (AI) that explores the possibility of using a model to estimate the biomethanization of municipal solid waste (MSW). The model uses data from an experiment in which MSW is anaerobically digested under three different moisture regimes by leachate recycling. A method utilizing a neurofuzzy inference system is used because AI systems have a high capacity for empiric learning.Considering the importance of finding an effective selection of the most valuable variables for the model, this methodology includes the following techniques: Exhaustive Search (or brute-force search); Stepwise, a step-by-step regression method; and the use of Expert Knowledge. With the use of the fuzzy logic toolbox (MATLAB 1 ), nine models were generated. However, when a case study is used to detail the method, the proposed methodology can also be used with any other system with a set of input and output data.