Fermentative hydrogen production from soybean protein processing wastewater in an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) using anaerobic mixed consortia.

Fermentative H(2) production from soybean protein processing wastewater (SPPW) was investigated in a four-compartment anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) using anaerobic mixed cultures under continuous flow condition in the present study. After being inoculated with aerobic activated sludge and operated at the inoculants of 5.98 gVSS L(-1), COD of 5000 mg L(-1), HRT of 16 h and temperature of (35 ± 1) °C for 22 days, the ABR achieved stable ethanol-type fermentation. The specific hydrogen production rate of anaerobic activated sludge was 165 LH(2)kg MLVSS(-1) day(-1), the substrate conversion rate was 600.83 LH(2)kg COD(-1)and the COD removal efficiency was 44.73% at the stable operation status. The ABR system exhibited a better stability and higher hydrogen yields than continuous stirring tank reactor under the same operational condition. The experimental data documented the feasibility of substrate degradation along with molecular H(2) generation utilizing SPPW as primary carbon source in the ABR system.