Producing hydrogen from the fermentation of cheese whey and glycerol as cosubstrates in an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor

Author(s)

Almeida, Priscilla de Souza ; de Menezes, Camila Aparecida ; Camargo, Franciele Pereira ; Sakamoto, Isabel Kimiko ; Amancio Varesche, Maria Bernadete ; Silva, Edson Luiz

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY; v. 47, n. 31, p. 14-pg., 2022-04-12.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the organic loading rate (OLR) (60, 90, and 120 g Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). L-1.d(-1)) on hydrogen production from cheese whey and glycerol fermentation as cosubstrates (50% cheese whey and 50% glycerol on a COD basis) in a thermophilic fluidized bed reactor (55 degrees C). The increase in the OLR to 90 gCOD.L-1.d(-1) favored the hydrogen production rate (HPR) (3.9 L H2 center dot L-1.d(-1)) and hydrogen yield (HY) (1.7 mmol H(2 center dot)gCOD(app)(-1)) concomitant with the production of butyric and acetic acids. Employing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the highest hydrogen production was related to the detection of Thermoanaerobacterium (34.9%), Pseudomonas (14.5%), and Clostridium (4.7%). Conversely, at 120 gCOD.L-1.d(-1), HPR and HY decreased to 2.5 L H2 center dot L-1.d(-1) and 0.8 mmol H(2 center dot)gCOD(app)(-1), respectively, due to lactic acid production that was related to the genera Thermoanaerobacterium (50.91%) and Tumebacillus (23.56%). Cofermentation favored hydrogen production at higher OLRs than cheese whey single fermentation. (C) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• 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