Production of hydrogen from beverage wastewater by dark fermentation in an internal circulation reactor: Effect on pH and hydraulic retention time

TY - JOUR

T1 - Production of hydrogen from beverage wastewater by dark fermentation in an internal circulation reactor

T2 - Effect on pH and hydraulic retention time

AU - Alvarez, Alan

AU - Fuentes, Karol

AU - Arias, Carlos Alberto

AU - R. Chaparro, Tatiana

PY - 2022/8

Y1 - 2022/8

N2 - Energy demand currently is mostly satisfied by the use of fossil fuels that present not only problems for theenvironment, but also are not renewable. Dark fermentation (DF) is a biological process that can provide analternative to meet energy needs. The use of industrial effluents from carbon-rich waters in the production ofhydrogen and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) through the DF is a promising strategy. However, determining theoptimal operating conditions to increase the production of the sub-products has been not being thoroughlystudied. This study aims at determining the optimal condition of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and pH toimprove hydrogen production in an internal recirculation (IC) reactor treating beverage wastewater usingResponse Surface Methodology and interaction between factors. The study also assessed VFAs concentrationswhen operating at optimal conditions. The results showed that the combination of an 8.0 h HRT and 5.5 pro-duced 30% of hydrogen and the interaction between factors established that the pH was the main factorinfluencing the results. Also, it was observed that the concentration of lactic acid did not inhibit the production ofH2 for the optimal value of pH. However, it is evident that more studies using HRT of less than 8 h and of VFAsdistribution are needed. Future optimization technique considerations are necessary to reduce uncertainties forbiological hydrogen production purposes.

AB - Energy demand currently is mostly satisfied by the use of fossil fuels that present not only problems for theenvironment, but also are not renewable. Dark fermentation (DF) is a biological process that can provide analternative to meet energy needs. The use of industrial effluents from carbon-rich waters in the production ofhydrogen and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) through the DF is a promising strategy. However, determining theoptimal operating conditions to increase the production of the sub-products has been not being thoroughlystudied. This study aims at determining the optimal condition of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and pH toimprove hydrogen production in an internal recirculation (IC) reactor treating beverage wastewater usingResponse Surface Methodology and interaction between factors. The study also assessed VFAs concentrationswhen operating at optimal conditions. The results showed that the combination of an 8.0 h HRT and 5.5 pro-duced 30% of hydrogen and the interaction between factors established that the pH was the main factorinfluencing the results. Also, it was observed that the concentration of lactic acid did not inhibit the production ofH2 for the optimal value of pH. However, it is evident that more studies using HRT of less than 8 h and of VFAsdistribution are needed. Future optimization technique considerations are necessary to reduce uncertainties forbiological hydrogen production purposes.

U2 - 10.1016/j.ecmx.2022.100232

DO - 10.1016/j.ecmx.2022.100232

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0196-8904

VL - 15

JO - Energy Conversion and Management

JF - Energy Conversion and Management

M1 - 100232

ER -