An immobilized mixed microflora approach to enhancing hydrogen and methane productions from high-strength organic loading food waste hydrolysate in series batch reactors

Abstract

The immobilized cells technology was used for enhancing the two stages batch bioreactors in series from high-strength food waste hydrolysate. Carrageenan and gelatin were used as support materials to create immobilized cells to improve microorganisms’ stability, activity, and productivity. It was found a promising advantages of a higher hydrogen and methane production rates, better stability, and resistance to shock loads to reduce the cost of producing biogaseous fuels from food waste. It was found that optimal biohydrogen production based on the working volume was 1.00 L H2/L which using 80 g COD/L of food waste hydrolysate and 20% of immobilized cells, and peak of methane production of 11.72 L CH4/L which using 120 g COD/L and 30% of immobilized cells. The yield of hydrogen and methane were 21.33 mL H2/g VS and 373.83 mL CH4/g VS respectively. TS, VS, and COD removal efficiency were 91.24, 90.64, and 86.35%, respectively. This study can support an efficient bioenergy production system development from a sustainable valuable feedstock such as a high-strength organic food waste.