Hydrogen and Methane Production in a Two-Stage Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion System by Co-Digestion of Kitchen Waste and Municipal Sewage Sludge with a High Solid Content

Abstract

The thermophilic anaerobic fermentation of mixed materials for simultaneously producing biohydrogen and methane has become a research hotspot. In this study, thermally treated kitchen waste (KW) and municipal sewage sludge (MSS) were used as substrates for a thermophilic two-stage anaerobic digestion process. The effects on gas production performance were investigated in both the hydrogen-producing stage and methane-producing stage under different organic load rates (OLRs). The production rates, volume, removal rates, and energy yields of volatile solids (VS) were optimal under higher OLRs for both the hydrogen (OLR = 12.5 g VS/L·day) and methane stages (OLR = 5 g VS/L·day). These conditions also provided the optimal average removal rate and total energy yield of VS for the entire anaerobic fermentation system (65.4% and 30.9 kJ/g VS, respectively). Overall, the results demonstrate the superior efficiency of VS removal and hydrogen and methane production in a two-stage thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of KW and MSS with a high solid content under proper material mix ratio and higher OLRs. This study provides the basis for material mass ratio, mixtures' pretreatment, and operation control for future pilot tests.