International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol.45, No.21, 11943-11953, 2020
Energy valorization of crude glycerol and sanitary sewage in hydrogen generation by biological processes
Biohydrogen production was studied with increased concentrations of crude glycerol (CG) co-digested with sanitary sewage by anaerobic consortium bacteria in anaerobic batch reactors, at 30 degrees C and initial pH 7.0. The CG was obtained during the biodiesel production from waste cooking oils (WCO). The anaerobic consortium was from a granular sludge of UASB reactor used in the treatment of poultry wastes heat treated to inhibit methanogenic activity previously. The higher H-2 generation was observed with 240.0 g COD L-1 (35.82 mmol L-1), being consumed 63.9% of CG. The co-digestion associated with sanitary sewage facilitated the CG consumption with the increase of organic load, favoring the acetic acid and 1,3-propanediol production in a liquid phase of the reactors. These results are promising, contributing effectively to the treatment of both wastes with concomitant generation of bioenergy. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.