Hydrogen-methane production from pulp & paper sludge and food waste by mesophilic-thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion

The present study focused on the mesophilic anaerobic bio-hydrogen production from PPS (pulp & paper sludge) and FW (food waste), and the subsequent anaerobic digestion of the effluent for the methane production under thermophilic conditions by a two-stage process. The maximum hydrogen yield of 64.48 mL g(-1) VSfed and methane yield of 432.3 mL g(-1) VSfed were obtained when PPS and FW were applied with 1: 1 VS ratio as the feedstock. No VFA were cumulated in the reactor during the period of hydrogen - methane fermentation, as well as no NH3-N and Na+ inhibition were found in the process. 71%-87% removal efficiencies of SCOD were attained for hydrogen and methane co-production. pH 4.8-6.4 and alkalinity 794-3316 mg CaCO3 L-1 for H-2 fermentation, as well as pH 6.5-8.8 and alkalinity 4165-4679 mg CaCO3 L (1) for CH4 fermentation, were achieved without any adjustment. This work showed that anaerobic co-digestion of PPS and FW for hydrogen-methane co-production was a stable, reliable and effective way for energy recovery and bio-solid waste stabilization by the two-stage mesophilic-thermophilic process. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.