Biohydrogen production from autoclaved fruit and vegetable wastes by dry fermentation under thermophilic condition

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.12.068
• Publication Date: 2019-01-09T00:04:22Z
• Authors: Haris Nalakath Ab...; Tugba Keskin; Okyanus Yazgin; Bensu Gunay; Kubra Arslan; Nuri Azbar
• Keywords: Dark fermentation; Fermentative hydrogen production

Abstract Dark fermentative hydrogen production from organic waste is an attractive technique that simultaneously treats waste along with generation of renewable fuel. In this study, a relative new technology named dark dry fermentation was tested in a 55-L reactor to treat fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) along with simultaneous generation of biohydrogen. To understand the effect of autoclaving as a pretreatment method on FVW for subsequent biohydrogen production, two independent experiments were performed; one with autoclaved waste (experiment I) and another by using non autoclaved waste (experiment II). From the analyses, it was found that maximum hydrogen % obtained for experiment I was 41% (v/v%) whereas, for experiment II was 21%. In terms of total hydrogen produced, around 30% higher production was observed with experiment I compared to experiment II. The hydrogen yields for experiment I and experiment II were respectively, 27.19 and 20.81 NmL H2/gVS (VS = volatile solid added), and the metabolites (VFAs) preferentially produced were acetic acid and iso-butyric acid.