Thermphilic lactate-driven dark fermentation from OFMSW

This project investigates the process engineering and microbial ecology of thermophilic lactate-driven dark fermentation (LD-DF) using the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) as feedstock for renewable hydrogen. We enriched mixed microbial consortia and evaluated key operating factors (pH, total solids, and hydraulic retention time) in batch and continuous reactors. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (V4-V5) was used to track community dynamics and link lactate cross-feeding with hydrogen production performance. The resulting sequence data from enrichment, optimization, and steady-state stages will support the rational design of robust, thermophilic LD-DF systems for OFMSW valorization.