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The present work investigates a two-stage process scheme for cheese whey valorization through energy recovery in different forms by means of bio-electrochemical systems. The first stage consisted of an integrated bio-electrochemical process for H2 and electricity production. This combined dark fermentation with an electrochemical system with the aim of overcoming the typical thermodynamic/biochemical limitations of fermentation and enhancing H2 recovery. The second treatment stage involved a single-chamber microbial fuel cell, featuring an innovative configuration consisting of four air cathodes with fly ash as the oxygen reduction catalyst. The bio-electrochemical process performed in the first stage achieved promising results, displaying a three-times higher H2 production yield compared to conventional dark fermentation. In addition, the experiments using the MFC in the second stage were found to successfully exploit the effluent from the first stage, with COD removal yields of 86% ± 8% and energy recovery with a maximum current output of 1.6 mA and a maximum power density of 1.2 W/m3.

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Bioplastics have entered everyday life as a potential sustainable substitute for commodity plastics. However, still further progress should be made to clarify their degradation behavior under controlled and uncontrolled conditions. The wide array of biopolymers and commercial blends available make predicting the biodegradation degree and kinetics quite a complex issue that requires specific knowledge of the multiple factors affecting the degradation process. This paper summarizes the main scientific literature on anaerobic digestion of biodegradable plastics through a general bibliographic analysis and a more detailed discussion of specific results from relevant experimental studies. The critical analysis of literature data initially included 275 scientific references, which were then screened for duplication/pertinence/relevance. The screened references were analyzed to derive some general features of the research profile, trends, and evolution in the field of anaerobic biodegradation of bioplastics. The second stage of the analysis involved extracting detailed results about bioplastic degradability under anaerobic conditions by screening analytical and performance data on biodegradation performance for different types of bioplastic products and different anaerobic biodegradation conditions, with a particular emphasis on the most recent data. A critical overview of existing biopolymers is presented, along with their properties and degradation mechanisms and the operating parameters influencing/enhancing the degradation process under anaerobic conditions.