COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF BIO-HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM CHEESE WHEY WASTEWATER UNDER THERMOPHILIC AND MESOPHILIC ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS

摘要

Hydrogen production from cheese whey wastewater via dark fermentation was conducted using mixed culture under mesophilic (36℃± 1) and thermophilic (55℃ ± 1) conditions, respectively. The hydrogen yields and specific hydrogen production rates were found as follows: mesophilic: 9.2 mmol H_2 /g COD (chemical oxygen demand) and 5.1 mL H_2 /g VSS h; thermophilic: 8.1 mmol H_2/g COD and 1.1 mL H_2 /g VSS h. The reaction mixture for the mesophilic condition was composed of acetate (0.3-14.7%) and iso-butyrate (85-98%), plus other volatile fatty acids. On the other hand, the reactor mixture for the thermophilic condition was composed of acetate (1-43%) and iso-butyrate (29-46%).