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Effect of pH on the Anaerobic Fermentation of Fruit/Vegetables and Disposable Nappies Hydrolysate for Bio-hydrogen Production

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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this work was to optimize the anaerobic fermentation of a mixed waste stream, consisted of fruit and vegetables that have lost their marketing value and a disposable nappies’ hydrolysate. More specifically, the aim was to identify the optimal pH value for maximum hydrogen production and valuable metabolites such as volatile fatty acids and ethanol.

Methods

A wide range of pH values was tested (from 4.5 to 7.5 with 0.5 increment) using an automatic controller system, in batch fermentations that took place in mesophilic temperature conditions (37 °C). The first set of experiments was carried out with the fruit and vegetables mixture, diluted with water (2:3 v/v) and subsequent trials followed using the fruit and vegetable mixture with the disposable nappies’ hydrolysate at the same ratio (2:3 v/v).

Results

The maximum hydrogen volume was produced at pH 6.0 (1.34 L H2/LReactor) for the fruit/vegetable stream whereas, the maximum concentration of ethanol and volatile fatty acids (15.60 g/L) was reached at pH 6.5 for the same substrate. Regarding the mixed waste stream, both hydrogen production and metabolites concentration reached a maximum at pH 7.5 with 4.09 L H2/LReactor and 17.16 g/L respectively.

Conclusions

Different optimum pH value for bio-hydrogen production was observed between the anaerobic fermentation of the two substrates (fruit/vegetables waste and mixed waste stream). Higher overall yields and concentrations of the metabolic products were obtained with the fermentation of the mixed substrate.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of this study by the European Commission - Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME) - Project WASTE4THINK (H2020 - GA 688995) “Moving towards Life Cycle Thinking by integrating Advanced Waste Management Systems”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering and Environmental Technology (LBEET), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, University Campus - Rio, 26504, Patras, Greece

    Konstantina Tsigkou, Sofia Athanasopoulou & Michael Kornaros

  2. Green Technologies Ltd., 5 Ellinos Stratiotou Str., 26223, Patras, Greece

    Panagiota Tsafrakidou & Constantina Zafiri

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  1. Konstantina Tsigkou
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  2. Panagiota Tsafrakidou
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Correspondence to Michael Kornaros.

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Tsigkou, K., Tsafrakidou, P., Athanasopoulou, S. et al. Effect of pH on the Anaerobic Fermentation of Fruit/Vegetables and Disposable Nappies Hydrolysate for Bio-hydrogen Production. Waste Biomass Valor 11, 539–551 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-019-00854-z

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