title: Potential for biohydrogen and methane production from olive pulp.
abstract: The present study investigates the potential for thermophilic biohydrogen and methane production from olive pulp, which is the semi-solid residue coming from the two-phase processing of olives. It focussed on: a) production of methane from the raw olive pulp, b) anaerobic bio-production of hydrogen from the olive pulp, and c) subsequent anaerobic treatment of the hydrogen-effluent with the simultaneous production of methane. Both continuous and batch experiments were performed. The hydrogen potential of the olive pulp amounted to 1.6 mmole H2 per g TS. The methane potential of the raw olive pulp and hydrogen-effluent was as high as 19 mmole CH4 per g TS. This suggests that olive pulp is an ideal substrate for methane production and it shows that biohydrogen production can be very efficiently coupled with a subsequent step for methane production.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece. gavala@chemeng.upatras.gr
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Gavala
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Skiadas
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ahring
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lyberatos
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D007220:Industrial Waste; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D012722:Sewage; D000431:Ethanol; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane