Biohydrogen Production in an AnSBBR Treating Glycerin-Based Wastewater: Effects of Organic Loading, Influent Concentration, and Cycle Time

This study evaluated the influence of the applied volumetric organic load on biohydrogen production in an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR) with 3.5 L of liquid medium and treating 1.5 L of glycerin-based wastewater per cycle at 30 °C. Six applied volumetric organic loads (AVOLCT) were generated from the combination of cycle periods (3 and 4 h) and influent concentrations (3000, 4000, and 5000 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD) L−1), with values ranging from 7565 to 16,216 mg COD L−1 day−1. No clear relationship was found between the applied volumetric organic load and the hydrogen production. However, the highest hydrogen molar production (MPr 67.5 mol H2 m−3 day−1) was reached when the reactor was operated with a cycle period of 4 h and an influent concentration of 5000 mg COD L−1 (AVOLCT 12,911 mg COD L−1 day−1). This condition also reached the highest molar yield per applied load based on the organic matter (MYALC,m 21.1 mol H2 kg COD−1). In addition, the pretreatment of the sludge/inoculum was found to not influence the productivity/yield of the process, and the use of crude glycerol as a sole source of carbon exhibited a clear disadvantage for hydrogen production compared to pure glycerol. The AnSBBR used for the hydrogen production experiments operated with pure glycerol as a sole carbon source exhibited important practical potential.