Enhancement of biohythane production from palm oil mill effluent by Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum PSU-2 and methanogenic mixed cultures using a thermophilic two-ring bioreactor

A novel thermophilic two-ring bioreactor was employed to produce biohythane from palm oil mill effluent (POME) using Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum PSU-2 and thermophilic methanogenic mixed cultures. The reactor system demonstrated impressive performance, achieving hydrogen and methane yields of 113.3 ± 15.0 mL/g-VS and 473.0 ± 60.0 mL/g-VS, respectively, with a total biohythane composition of 4.3 % H₂, 37.1 % CO_2, and 58.6 % CH₄. The process exhibited high treatment efficiency, with COD and VS removal efficiencies reaching 93.7 % and 84.3 %, respectively. Microbial community analysis revealed the crucial roles of various microorganisms in the biohythane production process. Thermoclostridium sp., Thermoanaerobacterium sp., and Anaerobranca sp. were identified as key players in hydrogen production, while Bacteroides sp. and Methanobacterium sp. were found to be essential for methane production. The optimization of operating conditions, including pH (5.0–8.0), temperature (55 °C), and hydraulic retention time (2 d for H₂ and 10 d for CH₄), significantly enhanced biohythane production efficiency. The techno-economic analysis demonstrated the economic viability of the thermophilic two-ring bioreactor system, with a net present value of 4,186,000 USD, an internal rate of return of 82 %, and a payback period of 1.4 years. These findings highlight the potential of this innovative technology as a sustainable and economically attractive solution for treating POME and simultaneously producing renewable energy in the form of biohythane, contributing to the sustainable development of the palm oil industry and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.