초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this study, the anaerobic co-digestion of food waste (FW) and sewage sludge (SS) was investigated for the production of hydrogen and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The results showed that the anaerobic co-digestion of these materials enhanced the hydrogen content by 62.4% (v/v), 29.89% higher than that obtained by FW digestion alone, and the total VFA production reached at 281.84 mg/g volatile solid (VS), a 8.38% increase. This enhancement was primarily resulted from improvements in the multi-substrate characteristics, which were obtained by supplying a higher soluble chemical oxygen demand (23.78–32.14 g/L) and suitable a pH (6.12–6.51), decreasing total ammonia nitrogen by 18.67% and ensuring a proper carbon/nitrogen ratio (15.01–23.01). Furthermore, maximal hydrogen (62.39 mL/g VS) and total VFA production potential (294.63 mg/g VS) were estimated using response surface methodology optimization, which yielded FW percentages of 85.17% and 79.87%, respectively. Based on a pyrosequencing analysis, the dominant bacteria associated with VFA and hydrogen production were promoted under optimized condition, including members of genera <I>Veillonella</I> and <I>Clostridium</I> and the orders Bacteroidales and Lactobacillales.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Co-digestion enhanced H<SUB>2</SUB> content (62.4%, v/v) and VFA production (281.84 mg/g VS). </LI> <LI> The mixing of SS and FW improved substrate characteristics for hydrogen and tVFA. </LI> <LI> The optimum condition for maximal H<SUB>2</SUB> and tVFA was estimated as 85.17 and 79.87% FW. </LI> <LI> Co-digestion promoted growth of the microbes involved in H<SUB>2</SUB> and VFA production. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>