Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. x, No. x, xxxx 1
Copyright © 200x Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Biohydrogen production by anaerobic co-digestion
of press mud and domestic sewage
B. Radjaram
Mechanical Engineering Division
Manakula Vinayagar Institute of Technology
Pondicherry -605107, India
E-mail: radjaram@sify.com
R. Saravanane*
Environmental Engineering Laboratory,
Department of Civil Engineering,
Pondicherry Engineering College,
Puducherry – 605 014, India
Fax: 91-413-2655101
E-mail: rsaravanane@pec.edu
E-mail: saravananae@gmail.com
*Corresponding author
Abstract: Anaerobic fermentation of press mud and sewage for biohydrogen
production was conducted in six batch reactors for various total solid
concentrations between 5 – 8.5%. Chemical oxygen demand, pH, total solid %
for biohydrogen produced were monitored regularly. The experiments were
conducted for 40 days to optimize the total solid content of the feed for
maximum biohydrogen production. Effect of fermentation with and without
seed was assessed. Viability of biohydrogen production from press mud as
renewable energy to supplement energy crisis was explored.
Keywords: press mud; sewage; biohydrogen; COD; chemical oxygen demand;
anaerobic digestion; pH; batch.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Radjaram, B. and
Saravanane, R. (xxxx) ‘Biohydrogen production by anaerobic co-digestion
of press mud and domestic sewage’, Int. J. Environment and Waste
Management, Vol. x, No. x, pp.xxx–xxx.
Biographical notes: B. Radjaram is currently Professor in Mechanical Engg &
Head, Manakula Vinayagar Institute of Technology, Pondicherry. He received
his B.E in Mechanical Engg in 1989 from University of Madras, M.Tech. in
Energy Technology in 1997 and Ph.D in 2011 from Pondicherry Engineering
College under Pondicherry University. His research interest is in energy and
environment. He has about 20 years of experience in teaching, research &
industry
R. Saravanane received his PhD in Environmental Engineering from IIT,
Chennai in 2003, ME in Environmental Engineering (Distinction) from Anna
University, Chennai in 1993 and BE in Civil Engineering (Distinction) from
University of Madras, Chennai in 1989. His research areas of interest include
environmental engineering, biological fluidisation for wastewater treatment,