An integrated biohydrogen refinery: Synergy of photofermentation, extractive fermentation and hydrothermal hydrolysis of food wastes

▸ Integrated biohydrogen refinery (IHBR) was evaluated with range of food wastes. ▸ The IBHR process combines hydrothermal hydrolysis, dark fermentation and photo-fermentation. ▸ Hydrolysed biomass was suitable for efficient electro-extractive fermentation (EF). ▸ EF generates an NH4+-free liquor suitable for photofermentation (PF) independent of feed N-content. ▸ On average the IBHR reduced waste by 92% with a net energy ratio of 2.4 producing 67 kW per ha land.