The co-production of biohydrogen and methane from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste was investigated using a two-stage AD system, composed of a pilot scale dark fermenter (DF) and a continuous methanogenic biofilm reactor. From the DF process, a biohydrogen yield of 41.7 (± 2.3) ml H 2 /gVS added was achieved. The liquid DF effluent (DFE) was rich in short chain volatile fatty acids, i.e., mainly acetic and butyric acid. The DFE was valorized by producing methane in the methanogenic biofilm reactor. Two methanogenic biofilm reactors were used to assess the biotic and abiotic role of the DFE on the performance of the reactors. Regardless of the different DFE feeding (i.e., biotic and abiotic), similar and stable operational performance of the two methanogenic biofilm reactors were observed with a respective methane yield and COD removal efficiency of 280-300 ml CH 4 /gCOD removed and 80-90%. Both methanogenic biofilm reactors showed significant resistance toward organic shock loads and recovered fast after reactor disturbance. The total estimated energy recovered in the form of hydrogen and methane gas was, respectively, 28 and 72%, of the initial COD. HIGHLIGHTS • Simultaneous production of biohydrogen and methane from OFMSW was investigated. • A pilot scale dark fermenter and methanogenic biofilm reactor were used for, respectively, biohydrogen and methane production. • The biotic and abiotic role of the dark fermentation effluent on the methanogenic biofilm reactor was assessed. • Anaerobic biofilm reactors demonstrated a high tolerance toward an increased OLR. • H 2 and CH 4 was 28 and 72%, respectively, of the total energy recovery from the OFMSW.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.