Paper details

Title:

Implementation of Dark Fermentation for Biohydrogen Production in Industrial Wastewater Treatment: Enhancing Energy Yield

Author(s):

Neubauer, M., Pummer, R., Neuhauser, W., Preidelt, M., Kogler, A., Hindinger, M., Weiß, S., Priemetzhofer, L., Omann, M., Emerstorfer, F., Bauer, L., Ludwig, K., Drosg, B.

Document(s):

Abstract:

Hydrogen (H2) has attracted significant attention as an energy source in recent years. In addition to the already high demands, H2 is also considered as an important factor in the proposed energy transition. However, current methods of hydrogen production depend almost entirely on fossil fuels. Given the substantial volumes of organic loaded wastewater produced by the industry, the potential for biological hydrogen using dark fermentation is considerable high. Dark fermentation provides the advantage of pre-treating wastewater for methanogenesis while simultaneously generating biohydrogen. In this study, dark fermentation experiments were conducted in serum bottles using both synthetic and wastewater media. Experiments showed promising productivities (mole H2 per mole glucose) of up to 1.8 ± 0.2 mole/mole. Those were followed by a scale-up to a 13 L pilot reactor forming the first part of a two-stage system (acidification and methanogenesis). Here a productivity of 2.34 mole/mole was reached, going along with acetic and butyric acid production of 0.73 ± 0.15 g/d*L and 1.48 ± 0.33 g/d*L respectively, serving as a substrate for methanogenesis. By integrating such systems in industrial wastewater plants energy yield can be improved significantly.

Keywords:

hydrogen, wastewater treatment, biomethane, residues, renewable energies

Topic:

Biomass Conversion for Bioenergy

Subtopic:

Anaerobic digestion for biogas and biomethane production

Event:

32nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

4DO.4.2

Pages:

539 - 542

ISBN:

978-88-89407-24-0

Paper DOI:

10.5071/32ndEUBCE2024-4DO.4.2

Price:

FREE