Optimization of Cattle Manure and Food Waste Co-Digestion for Biohydrogen Production in a Mesophilic Semi-Continuous Process

Abstract

Biohydrogen production from organic solid waste has shown particular advantages over other methods owing to the combination of waste reduction and bioenergy production. In this study, biohydrogen production from the co-digestion of cattle manure and food waste was optimized in a mesophilic semi-continuous process. To maximize hydrogen production, the effects of the mixing ratio (the proportion of food waste in the substrate), substrate concentration, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the co-digestion were systematically analyzed using a Box–Behnken design. The results showed that strong interactive effects existed between the three factors, and they had a direct effect on the responses. Hydrogen was primarily produced via the butyrate pathway, which was accompanied by the competing heterolactic fermentation pathway. Propionate and valerate produced from lipids and proteins, respectively, were obtained along with butyrate. The optimal process parameters included a mixing ratio of 47% to 51%, a substrate concentration of 76 to 86 g L−1, and an HRT of 2 d. Under these optimal conditions, the hydrogen production rate and hydrogen yield were higher than 1.00 L L−1 d−1 and 30.00 mL g−1 VS, respectively, and the predicted results were consistent with the experimental data. The results indicate that the co-digestion of cattle manure and food waste is a practical and economically promising approach for biohydrogen production.

A Review on Biohydrogen Sources, Production Routes, and Its Application as a Fuel Cell

“…Fan et al [32] produced biohydrogen with a yield of 68.6 mL H 2 /g TVS when beer-less wastes were converted into biohydrogen via cow dung compost. The hydrogen yield and hydrogen production rate were higher (30.00 mL/g VS-added and 1.00 L/L/d, respectively) when the biohydrogen was produced via the co-digestion of cattle manure and food wastes with an optimal mixing ratio of 47 to 51%, a hydraulic retention time of 2 days, and a substrate concentration of 76 to 86 g/L [46]. The production of biohydrogen using the co-digestion of cattle manure with specified risk materials has been reported by Gilroyed et al [47].…”

Optimizing Methanol Reforming Parameters for Enhanced Hydrogen Selectivity in an Aspen Hysys Simulator using Response Surface Methodology

“…The authors used a mixture of agricultural waste and obtained an optimized hydrogen yield of 21.0 mL g −1 . In contrast, Liu et al [ 18 ] optimized process parameters in biohydrogen plants and achieved a 30.0 mL g −1 higher hydrogen yield at optimal conditions. Bi et al [ 19 ] performed the parameter optimization analysis of a hydrogen liquefaction process.…”

Elucidating Synergetic Effects of Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Slaughterhouse Waste with Livestock Manures

“…Livestock manure, such as cow manure (CM) and pig manure (PM), offers significant advantages such as balanced macro-and micronutrient contents, microbial metabolism, buffer capacity, biodegradability, and the dilution of toxic compounds [13]. CM is rich in alkali and nutrients, making it suitable for co-digestion with rapidly degradable carbohydrate-rich substrates [14]. PM has a higher buffer capacity and a diverse range of micro-and macronutrients that are essential for the growth and activity of anaerobic microorganisms [15].…”