Effect of hydraulic retention time on anaerobic hydrogenesis in CSTR

The objective of this work was to evaluate the production of hydrogen in a continuous system as a function of hydraulic retention time (HRT). The intermediates accumulated and other parameters of pH, oxidation-reduction potential were quantified. The heat treatment (103 degrees C for 24 h) of the compost from a cattle dung composting facility was able to select H2-producing spores; this product was used as a seed for continuous systems. The brewery waste was used as substrate. For the eight runs with combinations of five HRTs and four pHs, the results indicate that at pH=5.5, a maximum H2 production of 47% H2 concentration, 43 ml H2/g COD(added), and 3.1 l H2/l reactor d was achieved at HRT=18 h. Nevertheless, at HRT=18 h, pH 5.5 was also the optimum pH for the maximum H2 production among four pHs evaluated from 5 to 6.5. There was a significant accumulation of volatile acid and alcohols during the entire study.