Simultaneous Biohydrogen Production and Wastewater Treatment in Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) Using Beet Sugar Wastewater

Biohydrogen production with simultaneous wastewater treatment was studied in continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) using beet sugar wastewater as substrate. Aerobic activated sludge was used as parent inoculum to startup the bioreactor. The reactor started up under the condition of influent COD concentration 4000 mg/L, pH 7, HRT 8 h and (35±1)°C, with a biomass of 6.09 g/L activated sludge in term of volatile suspended solid (VSS). The reactor demonstrated stable performance with respect to biogas production and substrate degradation after 28 days of operation. Subsequently, the reactor was operated at OLR of 18kgCOD/m³·day by the 53th day. During this phase of stable operation, the reactor also showed a COD removal efficiency of 45% and a specific H₂ production of 76.64 L/kgVSS·d in the system. Experimental data documented the feasibility of molecular H₂ generation along with substrate degradation from beet sugar wastewater during the bioreactor operation.