Evaluation of bioenergy recovery processes treating organic residues from ethanol fermentation process

This study evaluates a two-stage bioprocess for recovering bioenergy in the forms of hydrogen and methane while treating organic residues of ethanol fermentation from tapioca starch. A maximum hydrogen production rate of 0.77 mmol H2/g VSS/h can be achieved at volumetric loading rate (VLR) of 56 kg COD/m3/day. Batch results indicate that controlling conditions at S0/X0 = 12 with X0 = 4000 mg VSS/L and pH 5.5–6 are important for efficient hydrogen production from fermentation residues. Hydrogen-producing bacteria enriched in the hydrogen bioreactor are likely utilizing lactate and acetate for biohydrogen production from ethanol-fermentation residues. Organic residues remained in the effluent of hydrogen bioreactor can be effectively converted to methane with a rate of 0.37 mmol CH4/g VSS/h at VLR of 8 kg COD/m3/day. Approximately 90% of COD in ethanol-fermentation residues can be removed and among that 2% and 85.1% of COD can be recovered in the forms of hydrogen and methane, respectively.