Development of hydrogen producing inoculum from cow dung for hydrogen production from food waste

Abstract

The aim of this research was to develop a process for making an inoculum from cow dung. Consequently, the inoculum together with food waste was employed to produce hydrogen gas. A total of four different inoculums were experimented, including 1). Fresh inoculum 2). Autoclaved inoculum 3). Natural dried inoculum, and 4). Hot air dried inoculum. The experimental results revealed that the autoclaved inoculum is the most effective in terms of producing a volatile fatty acid in a maximum value of 9.55 g/l. In addition, a maximum hydrogen gas of 136.46 ml/g (of sugar), and also having an average pH of 4.85 and the sugar concentration of 0.33 g/l could be obtained. Furthermore, it was found that creating an inoculum by using the autoclaved inoculum produces an inoculum powder having a concentration of 20%. This suggests that the autoclaved inoculum is the best in terms of producing the hydrogen gas from using food waste is 35 litre/litre (of food waste).