Understanding the performance of an AnMBR treating urban wastewater and food waste via model simulation and characterization of the microbial population dynamics

•Anaerobic food waste co-digestion with wastewater promotes the hydrolytic activity.•Boosted hydrolytic activity remains after finishing co-digestion.•Treating food waste with wastewater in AnMBR increases 3-fold methane production.•The higher SRT and Food Waste proportion the higher influent biodegradability.•Experimental data was well modelled, modifying only influent biodegradability.