Biohydrogen Production Function of Operating pH and Seed Pre-Treatment

Abstract

Increase in biohydrogen production was carried as function of operating pH and seed pre-treatment using co-blended food waste and sewage sludge. Two batch tests were performed: in first test, three different pH levels (5.5, 6.5 and 7.5) were used and in second test: three different pre-treatments (acid, heat treated and combined heat and acid) were analyzed. The biohydrogen batch study identified the optimised pH level of 5.5 with the highest hydrogen yield of 201.4 mL/gVSremoved. Proliferation of ammonium nitrogen caused no significant impact on hydrogen yield. The second batch test revealed that heat treatment repressed hydrogen consumers and repeated shock heat treatment was more efficient than shock heat treatment. The highest hydrogen yield of 201.4 mL/g VSremoved was observed using acid treatment.