Hydrogen gas production by electrohydrolysis of cheese whey using photovoltaic cells (PVC)

Cheese manufacturing industry generates large amounts of high strength wastewater characterized by high chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration and its disposal constitutes a serious environmental problem with total sugar being mainly responsible for its high COD contents. In this respect the production of hydrogen gas from cheese whey using electrohydrolysis method with simultaneous COD removal presents a promising and novel approach.In this study, hydrogen gas production with simultaneous COD removal was observed by application of different DC voltages to cheese whey wastewater with DC power suppliers connected to power grid and also with electrical power generated by a photovoltaic cell (PVC). Hydrogen production yields, hydrogen production rates, energy conversion efficiencies, COD removals were considered as criteria for performance comparison.