Batch and semi-continuous hydrogen and methane production from food waste

CAPPAI, GIOVANNA SALVATORICA;DE GIOANNIS, GIORGIA;FRIARGIU, MARCO;Massi E;MUNTONI, ALDO;Polettini A;Pomi R;SPIGA, DANIELA

2013-01-01

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Abstract

Batch and semi-continuous fermentation experiments were performed on food waste (FW) and mixtures of food waste and wastewater activated sludge. The effect of a preliminary thermal shock treatment of the wastewater activated sludge was also investigated as a means to harvest the hydrogenogenic biomass. The main issues dealt with in the present study include: i) evaluating the influence of the operating pH on fermentative H2 production from FW and defining the optimal pH range, ii) comparing the H2 yield with or without external inoculum addition, iii) evaluating the effect of thermal pre-treatment of the inoculum on process kinetics and overall H2 production, iv) evaluating the feasibility of a two-stage semi-continuous H2 and CH4 production process.