Hydrogen and organic acid production from dark fermentation of cheese whey without buffers under mesophilic condition

Author(s)

Ribeiro, Jaqueline Cardoso ^[1] ; Mota, Vera Taina ^[2] ; de Oliveira, Valeria Maia ^[2] ; Zaiat, Marcelo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo LPB EESC USP, Sao Carlos Sch Engn, Biol Proc Lab, Joao Dagnone Ave 1100, BR-13563120 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] State Univ Campinas CPQBA Unicamp, Multidisciplinary Ctr Chem Biol & Agr Res, Microbial Resources Div, Alexandre Cazelatto Ave 999, BR-13148218 Paulinia, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Environmental Management; v. 304, FEB 15 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

BioH(2) production from cheese whey (CW) was evaluated in two acidogenic reactors, UASB and structured fixed-bed (FB), without pH adjustment, under mesophilic conditions, and OLR of 25-90 g COD/L.d. Stage 1 was conducted as a control experiment using sucrose. BioH(2) production occurred under pH < 3.0 with maximum yields of 5.8 and 3.0 mol H-2/mol sucrose(consumed) for UASB and FB reactors, respectively. In Stage 2, CW was the only substrate and a negligible bioH(2) production was observed. Nevertheless, a maximum lactic acid concentration of 9.6 g/L was obtained, indicating that pH adjustment can be non-essential for lactic acid production from CW. In Stage 3, a strategy to enrich hydrogenogenic biomass was conducted by initially feeding the reactors with sucrose and gradually replacing it by CW. This strategy brought better bioH(2) results compared to Stage 2, but it could not bear over the long-term, as non-hydrogen producing bacteria became predominant. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/06940-6 - Evaluation of acidogenic and methanogenic anaerobic reactors in the treatment of vinasse and whey without alkalination
• Grantee: Jaqueline Cardoso Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/06246-7 - Biorefinery concept applied to biological wastewater treatment plants: environmental pollution control coupled with material and energy recovery
• Grantee: Marcelo Zaiat
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/25645-8 - Omics approaches in acidogenic reactors without alkalization for organic acid and hydrogen production
• Grantee: Vera Tainá Franco Vidal Mota
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral