Mesophilic and thermophilic acidogenic fermentation of process water from food waste hydrothermal carbonization

The process water from hydrothermal carbonization of food waste (180 ◦ C, 1 h), characterized by a high organic matter content, represents a suitable substrate for acidogenic fermentation which was optimized by evaluating four inocula, under mesophilic and thermophilic batch conditions. The highest...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Diez, M. P., Rubia Romero, María de los Ángeles de la, Fernández Mohedano, Ángel, Díaz Nieto, Elena
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Repositorio:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.uam.es:10486/749980
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10486/749980
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.153494
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:CSTR
Dark fermentation
Hydrogen
Hydrothermal carbonization
Inoculum selection
Microbial taxonomy
Química
Descripción
Sumario:The process water from hydrothermal carbonization of food waste (180 ◦ C, 1 h), characterized by a high organic matter content, represents a suitable substrate for acidogenic fermentation which was optimized by evaluating four inocula, under mesophilic and thermophilic batch conditions. The highest hydrogen yield (44.4 mL H g COD 2 / ) was achieved with a thermophilically adapted mixed sludge at pH 5.5, where Prevotellaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Coprothermobacteracea were dominant. This inoculum was used under thermophilic continuous operation, where pH (4.8 and 5.5), hydraulic retention time (HRT; 3.5 and 5.0 d) and organic loading rate (OLR; 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 g COD 5 d, and OLR 5 g COD /L⋅d) were evaluated. Optimal performance was achieved at pH 5.5, HRT /L⋅d, reaching ~57 mL H 2 /g COD and ~7800 mg/L of volatile fatty acids. This operating condition selectively enriched hydrogen-producing bacteria (Thermoanaerobacterales III, Clostridiaceae) promoting lactate-driven metabolic routes conducted by Lactobacillaceae, thereby emphasizing the functional microbial consortia underlying process performance