Ultrasonic pretreatment for an enhancement of biohydrogen production from complex food waste

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 39; no. 15; pp. 7721 - 7729
• Main Authors: Gadhe, Abhijit, Sonawane, Shriram S., Varma, Mahesh N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.05.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Biohydrogen; Effectiveness; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Food waste; Foods; Fuels; Hydrogen; Hydrogen-based energy; Maximization; Optimization; Pretreatment; Ultrasonic testing; Ultrasonication; Wastes; Food waste; Ultrasonication; Biohydrogen; Optimization; Pretreatment; Hydrogen
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.03.105

The efficacy of ultrasonication pretreatment method for complex food waste prior to anaerobic digestion is evaluated for enhancement of H2 yield (HY) and rate (R). The RSM results showed that the ultimate H2 production increased with increasing TS content and ultrasonication time (UT). Desirability function integrated with RSM predicted an optimum condition of TS and UT as: 8% TS and 12 min, for maximization of HY and R. The highest HY, 149 mL/g VSadded, and R, 5.23 mL/h, were achieved during the verification test at optimized conditions. Furthermore, a significant decreased lag phase followed by highest molar HBu/HAc ratio (2.2) was also achieved at optimized conditions with lowest specific energy input (13,500 kJ/kg TS). The significant relative enhancement of HY, 75%, and R, 104%, implies that ultrasonically pretreated complex food waste with higher TS loading is about 1.7–2.1 times more effective for enhanced bioH2 production compared to unsonicated food waste. •Ultrasonic pretreatment for enhanced H2 production from food waste was studied.•Desirability function integrated with RSM used for maximization of H2 production.•Optimum conditions were 8% solid content and 12 min sonication time.•H2 yield of 149 mL/g VSadded and rate of 5.2 mL/h were achieved.•Ultrasonic pretreatment enhanced the ultimate H2 yield by 75%.