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Abstract

The anaerobic degradation of municipal organic waste produces considerable amounts of biogas and leachates that pollute the environment. In a circular economy context, the recovery of this waste is an alternative for the generation of environmental and economic benefits. Hermetia illucens larvae digest a wide range of organic materials, turning them into high-value protein and organic fertilizer. The dynamics of bioconversion and weight accumulation in larvae fed with household waste (RD), restaurant waste (RR), pig manure (EP), and bovine manure (EB) were evaluated. The rates of accumulation of weight in larvae and degradation of the residues were estimated, the data were fit to a logistic model of population growth. The highest rate of weight accumulation was obtained with RR (0.315 ± 0.090 g (g.d) ^-1), followed by EB (0.214 ± 0.054 g (g.d) ^-1), EP (0.213 ± 0.064 g (g.d) ^-1) and RD (0.199 ± 0.064 g (g.d) ^-1). The larvae degraded EP, RR, and RD in a similar way and in less time than EB. Fitting the data to the logistic model allows to analyze the dynamics of the weight gain of the larvae and the bioconversion of waste, and provides information for the optimal use of these processes.