Sequential Anaerobic Fermentative Production of Hydrogen and Methane from Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste*

Abstract

In order to improve energy recovery efficiency, the fermentative hydrogen production from organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) was followed by methane production using the residual of hydrogen production as substrate. Six individual components of OFMSW including rice, potato, lettuce, lean meat, peanut oil and banyan leaves were selected as experimental materials. The results showed that at the hydrogen production stage, the hydrogen yields were 125, 103, 35, 0, 5 and 0 mL g -1 (VS), and the energy efficiencies were 7.9%, 6.8%, 1.9%, 0, 0.1% and 0 for rice, potato, lettuce, lean meat, peanut oil and banyan leaves, respectively. The hydrogen compositions in biogas were about 34%~59%, 41%~56% and 37%~70% for rice, potato and lettuce, respectively. No methane was produced during the hydrogen production stage. During the methane production stage, the methane yields were 232, 237, 148, 278, 866 and 50 mL g -1 (VS); the methane contents were 42%~70%, 57%~71%, 73%~77%, 59%~73%, 68%~80% and 54%~74%; the energy efficiencies of co-production of hydrogen and methane were 56.3%, 58.4%, 28.8%, 39.2%, 81.2% and 8.8%, the total COD removal rates for the whole process of hydrogen and methane production were 72.30%, 81.70%, 32.63%, 47.59%, 97.46% and 11.29% for rice, potato, lettuce, lean meat, peanut oil and banyan leaves, respectively. Fig 4, Tab 5, Ref 35 Keywords municipal solid waste; anaerobic fermentation; hydrogen; methane; co-production