Innovative utilization of organic cabin waste for hydrogen production: A case study at Antalya Airport

This study suggested a way to produce valuable hydrogen from organic cabin waste collected at Antalya Airport, and it included energy and cost analyses of hydrogen production based on this method. In the proposed model, cabin waste is converted into biogas using anaerobic digestion technology, and hydrogen is produced from the biogas employing steam biogas reforming technology. Based on calculations, approximately 4126 m³/day of biogas can be produced from 148 tonnes/day of organic cabin waste. The annual hydrogen production capacity of the proposed model ranges from 186.78 to 231.64 tonnes. Calculations show that the minimum electricity consumption to produce 1 kg of hydrogen using steam biogas reforming technology is 21.75 kWh. Furthermore, the minimum selling price (MHSP) for 1 kg of hydrogen has been calculated as $5.67/kg. Conventional practices, such as land fertilization or incineration, are currently being utilized to recycle and make use of organic waste from cabins. The model presented in this study allows the production of hydrogen at a competitive price from waste materials while also providing an innovative transformation method aligned with circular economy principles. These findings are expected to serve as a guide for policymakers, scientists, and industry leaders dealing with sustainable hydrogen production.