Semi-pilot scale production of hydrogen from Organic Fraction of Solid Municipal Waste and electricity generation from process effluents

The production of hydrogen from Organic Fraction of Solid Municipal Waste (OFSMW) was studied on a semi-pilot scale. The potential of generating electricity using the process effluents was further assessed using a two-chambered Microbial Fuel Cell. A maximum hydrogen fraction of 46.7% and hydrogen yield of 246.93 ml H2 g−1 Total Volatile Solids was obtained at optimum operational setpoints of 7.9, 30.29 °C and 60 h for pH, temperature and hydraulic retention time (HRT) respectively. A maximum electrical power density of 0.21 W m-2 (0.74 A m−2) was recorded at 500 Ω and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 50.1% was achieved from the process. The process economics of energy generation from organic wastes could be significantly improved by integrating a two-stage process of fermentative hydrogen production and electricity generation.