HYDROGEN PRODUCTION IN ANAEROBIC REACTOR USING COCONUT PROCESSING WASTEWATER

Abstract

Hydrogen is an alternative energy source since it is from renewable origin and its combustion generates only oxygen and water. The fermentative biologic process is a sustainable way to produce hydrogen because it can utilize as substratum several types of agroindustrial wastewater rich in carbohydrates. Therefore, the aim of this study was to apply the agroindustrial wastewater from coconut processing in fluidized bed anaerobic reactor (FBAR) to produce hydrogen biologically. Reactor was operated under progressive increase of organic loading rate, varying the hydraulic detention time (HDT). The greatest hydrogen yield and percentage of hydrogen in biogas was attained at HDT of 2 h, which were 2.45 mol H2/mol glucose and 33.82%. The highest hydrogen production, in its turn, was verified at HDT of 1 h and was 0.57 L/h/L. Keywords: Coconut processing, hydrogen production, acidogenesis, anaerobic reactor, fluidized bed.