Sains Malaysiana 43(12)(2014): 1927–1936

Bio-Hydrogen Production from Food Waste through Anaerobic Fermentation

(Pengeluaran Bio Hidrogen daripada Sisa Makanan melalui Fermentasi Anaerobik)

OSUAGWU CHIEMERIWO GODDAY* & AGAMUTHU PARIATAMBY

Solid Waste Laboratory, A307 Block A Level 3, Institute of Post Graduate Studies

University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 6 June 2013/Accepted: 16 April 2014

ABSTRACT

In order to protect our planet and ourselves from the adverse effects of excessive CO₂ emissions and to prevent an imminent non-renewable fossil fuel shortage and energy crisis, there is a need to transform our current ‘fossil fuel dependent’ energy systems to new, clean, renewable energy sources. The world has recognized hydrogen as an energy carrier that complies with all the environmental quality and energy security, demands. This research aimed at producing hydrogen through anaerobic fermentation, using food waste as the substrate. Four food waste substrates were used: Rice, fish, vegetable and their mixture. Bio-hydrogen production was performed in lab scale reactors, using 250 mL serum bottles. The food waste was first mixed with the anaerobic sewage sludge and incubated at 37°C for 31 days (acclimatization). The anaerobic sewage sludge was then heat treated at 80°C for 15 min. The experiment was conducted at an initial pH of 5.5 and temperatures of 27, 35 and 55°C. The maximum cumulative hydrogen produced by rice, fish, vegetable and mixed food waste substrates were highest at 37°C (Rice =26.97±0.76 mL, fish = 89.70±1.25 mL, vegetable = 42.00±1.76 mL, mixed = 108.90±1.42 mL). A comparative study of acclimatized (the different food waste substrates were mixed with anaerobic sewage sludge and incubated at 37°C for 31days) and non-acclimatized food waste substrate (food waste that was not incubated with anaerobic sewage sludge) showed that acclimatized food waste substrate enhanced bio-hydrogen production by 90-100%.

Keywords: Acclimatization; anaerobic sewage sludge; bio-hydrogen; food waste; initial pH

ABSTRAK

Dalam usaha untuk melindungi planet dan diri kita daripada kesan pelepasan CO₂ yang berlebihan dan untuk mengelakkan krisis kekurangan bahan api fosil dan tenaga tidak boleh diperbaharui, terdapat keperluan untuk mengubah sistem semasa ‘kebergantungan kepada tenaga bahan api fosil’ kepada sumber tenaga baharu, bersih dan boleh diperbaharui. Dunia telah mengiktiraf hidrogen sebagai tenaga pembawa yang mematuhi permintaan terhadap kualiti alam sekitar dan keselamatan tenaga. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menghasilkan hidrogen melalui fermentasi anaerobik dan menggunakan sisa makanan sebagai substrat. Empat substrat sisa makanan telah digunakan: Nasi, ikan, sayur-sayuran serta campuran. Pengeluaran bio hidrogen telah dijalankan pada skala reaktor makmal, menggunakan botol serum 250 mL. Pertama, sisa makanan tersebut dicampur dengan enap cemar kumbahan anaerobik dan dieram pada 37°C selama 31 hari (pengikliman). Enap cemar kumbahan anaerobik kemudiannya dirawat pada suhu 80°C selama 15 min. Kajian pemula telah dijalankan pada pH5.5 dan suhu 27, 35 dan 55°C. Hidrogen terkumpul maksimum yang dihasilkan oleh beras, ikan, sayur-sayuran dan substrat sisa makanan campuran adalah tertinggi pada 37°C (beras = mL 26.97±0.76, ikan = mL 89.70±1.25, sayur-sayuran = mL 42.00±1.76 serta campuran = 108.90±1.42 mL). Suatu kajian perbandingan pengikliman (substrat sisa makanan berbeza telah dicampur dengan enap cemar kumbahan anaerobik dan dieram pada 37°C selama 31 hari) dan substrat sisa makanan tanpa pengikliman (sisa makanan yang tidak dieram dengan enap cemar kumbahan anaerobik) menunjukkan bahawa pengikliman substrat sisa makanan meningkatkan pengeluaran bio hidrogen sebanyak 90-100%.

Kata kunci: Bio hidrogen; enapcemar anaerobik kumbahan; pengikliman; pH awal; sisa makanan

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*Corresponding author; email: chisvictory@yahoo.com