A combination bioprocess of solid-state fermentation (SSF) and dark fermentative hydrogen production
from food waste was developed. Aspergillus awamori and Aspergillus oryzae were utilized in SSF from food
waste to generate glucoamylase and protease which were used to hydrolyze the food waste suspension to
get the nutrients-rich (glucose and free amino nitrogen (FAN)) hydrolysate. Both glucose and FAN
increased with increasing of food waste mass ratio from 4% to 10% (w/v) and the highest glucose
(36.9 g/L) and FAN (361.3 mg/L) were observed at food waste mass ratio of 10%. The food waste hydrolysates
were then used as the feedstock for dark fermentative hydrogen production by heat pretreated
sludge. The best hydrogen yield of 39.14 ml H2/g food waste (219.91 ml H2/VSadded) was achieved at food
waste mass ratio of 4%. The proposed combination bioprocess could effectively accelerate the hydrolysis
rate, improve raw material utilization and enhance hydrogen yield.