Review of techniques for biohydrogen production from palm oil mill effluent

Green Ibim Abba * and Ugoji Kelechi Uchenna

Mechanical Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas Bonny, Rivers State, Nigeria.
 
Review
World Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology and Sciences, 2023, 10(01), 098–102.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjaets.2023.10.1.0236
Publication history: 
Received on 09 July 2023; revised on 20 September 2023; accepted on 23 September 2023
 
Abstract: 
Due to rapid growth in population and societal development, the demand for energy is on the increase. The production of palm oil as one of the major edible oils consumed in the world has increased tremendously. Palm oil mill effluent (POME), a wastewater from the most significant agricultural industry is produced in tremendous amounts that requires proper management to mitigate its negative environmental effects. Studies have shown that Palm oil mill effluent (POME) possesses the properties of a good carbon feedstock for hydrogen generation in fermentation processes. In this study, several methods for biohydrogen production from Palm oil mill effluent (POME) were discussed. An apprehension into the different pre-treatment methods on POME including physicochemical, chemical and biological and their effects on the characteristics of POME including pH, temperature, sugar content, solid content, viscosity, nutrients and by-product toxicity on the biohydrogen production and effluent quality were reviewed. Various bioreactor designs were used for biohydrogen from POME, the modifications applied on the system design to increase the stability and productivity of POME treatment have been examined. The individual and interactive effects of pH, different temperatures of heat treatment, different inoculum sizes and substrate concentrations on biohydrogen production were discussed. Moreover, higher biohydrogen productivity could be obtained with the addition of nanoparticle nutrients and introducing genetically modified H2-producing bacteria. Finally, further investigation in the future shall focus on the development of a more inclusive and efficient POME treatment via DF process that favours biohydrogen production, environmental benign and economically viable.
 
Keywords: 
Palm oil mill effluent; Enzyme; Biohydrogen; Substrate; Reducing sugars
 
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