Biohydrogen production from Tequila vinasses in an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor: Effect of initial substrate concentration, temperature and hydraulic retention time

摘要

The effect of the temperature (25 and 35°C), the hydraulic retention time, HRT, (12 and 24h) and initial substrate concentration on hydrogen production from Tequila vinasse was studied using a sequencing batch reactor. When 25°C and 12-h HRT were applied, only insignificant biogas quantities were produced; however, using 24h of HRT and temperatures of 25 and 35°C, biogas containing hydrogen was produced. A maximum volumetric hydrogen production rate of 50.5mLH_2L~(-1)h~(-1) (48mmolH_2Lreactor-1d~(-1)) and an average hydrogen content in the biogas of 29.2±8.8% were obtained when the reactor was fed with 3gCODL~(-1), at 35°C and 12-h HRT. Methane formation was observed when the longer HRT was applied. Results demonstrated the feasibility to produce hydrogen from this waste without a previous pre-treatment.