Optimal pH range of anaerobic hydrogen production from dairy processing waste (DPW) was 4.8–5.5.
Thermophilic digestion can gain higher hydrogen yield and suppress the growth of methanogens.
Optimum DPW loading rate was 32.9 g-COD/l-d at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 days for hydrogen production.
Two-stage induced bed reactors (IBR) produced mixed gas with higher heating value and COD removal than single-stage.