Influence of the Metal Addition for Biohydrogen Production from the Conversion of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) by Anaerobic Process.

Biohydrogen is one of the main alternative fuels promising for the future. Bioconversion of the wastewater with the high concentration of organic using biological processes or microorganism by anaerobic processes can produce biogas which can be used as fuel instead of fossil fuels. In this study, palm oil mill effluent (POME) with the concentration of COD is 24,500 mg/L has been used as a substrate. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of metal addition for the formation of biohydrogen. Circulating bed reactor (CBR) is used with the flushing N2 1L/min for 24 hr and continued operates for 72 hr by internal biogas. The additional variation concentration of Fe(II) ion are 0.5; 1.0 and 2.5 mg/L, and Mg(II) are 0.5 and 1.5 mg/L were added by combination. The results showed that the combination of Fe(II) 1.0 mg/L and Mg(II) 1.5 mg/L produced the highest biohydrogen production is 17.12%v/v and the rate of biohydrogen production is 0.010-0.233% v/v/hr. Another combination of Fe(II) and Mg(II) provide results for the biohydrogen production is 10.46-16.37%v/v with the highest rate of biohydrogen production is 0.008-0.278%v/v/hr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]