Biohydrogen production from organic solid waste in a sequencing batch reactor: An optimization of the hydraulic and solids retention time

Abstract

Hydrogen production from organic solids waste was evaluated using a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) under mesophilic conditions, to investigate the effect of the hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solids retention time (SRT) on hydrogen production. The examined HRT and SRT values were from 4.6 to 27 h and 17–102 h, respectively. The results showed high hydrogen production rates (1.86 LH2/L·d) and a yield of 127.26 mLH2/gCODremoved for an SRT of 60 h and an HRT of 16 h. The highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (38.6 ± 6.9%) was also obtained under those conditions. The highest substrate hydrolysis percentage (73.0 ± 11.4%) was obtained at an HRT of 16 h and an SRT of 102 h. A short SRT of 20 h affected hydrogen production, which decreased up to 90%. With an SRT of 20 h and an HRT of 16 h, acetic acid-like fatty acids were mainly obtained. In experiments with a long SRT (60 h), the obtained fatty acid was butyrate. The conversion efficiencies for converting particulate material into fatty acids were 51–47% using a long SRT; a short HRT resulted in percentages of 37–40%. A 3D surface analysis was performed using the maximum hydrogen yield conditions as the central point, showing that the optimal hydrogen production can be obtained with an HRT of 16 h and an SRT of 55 h. Microbial analysis showed the predominance of the Olsenella genus at an HRT< 8 h and the presence of Clostridium at an HRT of 16 h. The HRT is the main parameter leading the community composition in the process.