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

Dark co-fermentation of skim latex serum (SLS) and palm oil mill

effluent (POME) under thermophilic conditions for efficient biohydrogen
production

Kullachat Sama*, Rattana Jariyaboon and Prawit Kongjan

Bio-Mass for Sustainable Energy and Chemical Products (Bio-MEC) Research Unit, Department of Science, Faculty of Science and
Technology, Prince of Songkla University (Pattani Campus), Muang, Pattani 94000, Thailand
*Correspondent author: kullachat.sama@gmail.com

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the optimum mixing ratio of skim latex serum (SLS) to palm oil mill
effluent (POME) for biohydrogen production under thermophilic temperature (55 C) by using thermophilic mixed
o
cultures. Batch co-fermentations were carried out at various mixing ratios of SLS to POME (95:5, 90:10, 85:15, 80:20,
75:25, 70:30, 65:35, 60:40, 55:45 and 50:50 (%v/v)) without supplementation of additional nutrients. The result shows
that the optimum mixing ratio of SLS to POME was 75:25 (%v/v) with high hydrogen content, hydrogen production rate
and hydrogen production yield of 27.1±0.8%, 19.6±0.3 mL H /d and 35.0±1.2 mL H /g-COD, respectively. In addition,
2
2
the hydrogen production yield achieved from co-fermentation was 1 and 5 times higher than that achieved from
individual fermentations of SLS and POME, respectively. Propionate and butyrate were the major soluble end-products
with concentrations 38.20±0.63 mM and 24.35±0.00 mM, respectively. Therefore this research work demonstrated

significant feasibility of anaerobic dark co-fermentation of SLS and POME to enhance biohydrogen production.
However, further nutrient optimization could be investigated in order to further increase hydrogen production yield.

Keywords: Biohydrogen production, Skim latex serum (SLS), Palm oil mill effluent (POME), Dark co-fermentation.