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• The highest MPR and yield were observed at thermophilic temperature. • Biological treatment of POME using integrated UASFF bioreactor is a clean method of producing biogas. • Treating POME using two-stage UASFF bioreactor is the first study in Malaysia. • More than 70% of total COD removal of POME could be achieved using integrated UASFF bioreactor. In a two-stage of up-flow anaerobic sludge fixed-film (UASFF) bioreactor, palm oil mill effluent (POME) wastewater was used as inoculum and substrate to study the biodegradation in association with hydrogen and methane production. During the first stage (H 2 -UASFF unit), different temperatures (37–70 °C) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) was designed and analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM) for biohydrogen production. In the second stage (CH 4 -UASFF unit), at 24 h HRT, a continuous experiment was carried out using the same temperature and effluent from H 2 -UASFF unit (also known as dark fermentation effluent) was used as substrate (12–20 g COD L−1). This study is focusing on the second stage of UASFF bioreactor (i.e. CH 4 -UASFF) for biomethane production. Studied parameters were designed using Historical Data in RSM. Its effects on methane production rate (MPR), methane yield, biogas percentage and COD removal were analyzed. The relation between initial effluent COD and temperature on biomethane production and overall reactor performance treating POME wastewater were also examined. Results showed that 76% of total COD removal efficiency (TCOD) was achieved using two-stage UASFF bioreactor. The MPR of 15.63 L CH 4 d−1, methane yield of 0.803 L CH 4 g−1 CODrem.d−1, COD removal efficiency of 66.28% and 93.31% of CH 4 at optimum temperature and effluent COD of 54 °C and 12 g COD L−1, respectively were obtained in CH 4 -UASFF unit. Based on this study, thermophilic temperature and low POME concentration showed a significant impact on biomethane production and more than 70% of TCOD of POME was reduced at 24 h HRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A start-up study was conducted to produce biohydrogen and biomethane from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) using a two-stage up-flow anaerobic sludge fixed-film (UASFF) bioreactor. 100% molasses was used to start the system, and POME was added at 10% increments until it reached 100% after 59 days. During this period of continuous operation, the HRT and temperature were adjusted in order to optimize the condition for biogas production. Hydrogen and methane gas production fluctuated between 53–70% and 90–95%, respectively, in the last four days of operation (days 56–59), with POME percentage being increased from 70% to 100% (30%–0% molasses). Using 100% raw POME led to a total COD removal of 83.70%, average gas production rates of 5.29 L H 2 d−1 (57.11% H 2) and 9.60 L CH 4 d−1 (94.08% CH 4), in their respective units. This output is comparable to, if not better than using 100% molasses as substrate. This work concludes that based on the relative consistency of biogas production on days 56–59, the two-stage UASFF bioreactor operating at a final HRT of 4 h and temperature of 43 °C has taken a period of two months for start-up. Image 1 • A total COD removal efficiency of 83.70% was achieved using raw POME in two-stage UASFF reactor. • Short-term and stable H 2 and CH 4 production were established in thermophilic UASFF bioreactor. • Highest H 2 percentage and HPR was 57.11% and 5.29 L d−1 using 100% raw POME. • Highest CH 4 percentage and MPR was 94.08% and 9.60 L d−1 using 100% raw POME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]