Optimization Strategies and Sustainable Challenge on Biohydrogen Production from Food Waste: A Review

Biohydrogen production from food waste via dark fermentation offers a promising solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and support renewable energy transitions within circular bioeconomy frameworks. Optimization strategies such as substrate selection, co-digestion, pretreatment techniques, inoculum enrichment, and precise control of operational parameters significantly enhance hydrogen yields and process stability. Advanced approaches including kinetic modelling, computational model, and machine learning facilitate efficient process monitoring and scale-up potential. However, challenges related to substrate heterogeneity, microbial inhibition, and economic feasibility hinder large-scale commercialization. Integrating biohydrogen production with food waste management and biomethane co-production improves overall energy recovery and environmental sustainability. Techno-economic analyses play a vital role in evaluating system viability and guiding industrial implementation. By addressing these technical and economic barriers, biohydrogen from food waste has the potential to become a scalable clean energy alternative contributing to global climate change mitigation.