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Biohydrogen Production from Industrial Waste: The Role of Pretreatment Methods

Weronika Cieciura-Włoch (), Wiktoria Hajduk, Marta Ikert, Tobiasz Konopski, Min Hein Khant, Jarosław Domański, Bolin Zhang and Dorota Kręgiel ()
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Weronika Cieciura-Włoch: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczańska 171/173, 90-530 Lodz, Poland
Wiktoria Hajduk: International Faculty of Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Żwirki 36, 90-539 Lodz, Poland
Marta Ikert: International Faculty of Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Żwirki 36, 90-539 Lodz, Poland
Tobiasz Konopski: International Faculty of Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Żwirki 36, 90-539 Lodz, Poland
Min Hein Khant: School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Andrea D’Accorso, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
Jarosław Domański: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczańska 171/173, 90-530 Lodz, Poland
Bolin Zhang: Beijing Key Laboratory of Forest Food Processing and Safety, College of Biological Science & Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Dorota Kręgiel: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Lodz University of Technology, Wolczańska 171/173, 90-530 Lodz, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-22

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dark fermentation in biohydrogen production from agro-industrial wastes, including apple pomace, brewer’s grains, molasses, and potato powder, subjected to different pretreatment methods. The experiments were conducted at a laboratory scale, using 1000 cm 3 anaerobic reactors at a temperature of 35 °C and anaerobic sludge as the inoculum. The highest yield of hydrogen was obtained from pre-treated apple pomace (101 cm 3 /g VS). Molasses, a less complex substrate compared to the other raw materials, produced 25% more hydrogen yield following pretreatment. Methanogens are sensitive to high temperatures and low-pH conditions. Nevertheless, methane constituted 1–6% of the total biogas under these conditions. The key factor was appropriate treatment of the inoculum, to limit competition from methanogens. Increasing the inoculum dose from 150 cm 3 /dm 3 to 250 cm 3 /dm 3 had no further effect on biogas production. The physicochemical parameters and VFA data confirmed the stability and usefulness of activated sludge as a source of microbial cultures for H 2 production via dark fermentation.

Keywords: dark fermentation; biohydrogen; industrial waste (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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