High rate acidification and organic solids solubilization process

A system for high rate acidification, organic solids solubilization, and biohydrogen production, comprising:

• a) a high rate acidifier including a completely mixed bioreactor comprising an input for receiving organic stream into said completely mixed bioreactor and an output for discharging an output stream,
• wherein the organic stream entering the completely mixed bioreactor is broken down microbiologically by hydrolyzing, acidifying, and hydrogen producing microorganisms to predominantly produce hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide, and a mixture of VFAs and primary alcohols, and wherein hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide are emitted from the completely mixed bioreactor, and wherein the output stream containing the VFAs, primary alcohols and hydrolyzing, acidifying, and hydrogen producing microorganisms is discharged from the completely mixed bioreactor,
• b) a membrane unit located downstream of said completely mixed bioreactor comprising one or more microfiltration membranes, and comprising a first side and a second side, the first side comprising a membrane input, a recirculation input, and a membrane concentrate output, the second side comprising a permeate output,
• the membrane input on the membrane unit is hydraulically connected with the output of the completely mixed bioreactor for receiving the output stream from said completely mixed bioreactor,
• wherein permeate containing predominantly the VFAs and the primary alcohols flow through the one or more microfiltration membranes and is discharged through the membrane permeate output,
• wherein the microorganisms in the membrane concentrate output stream are concentrated on the first side of the membrane unit,
• c) a storage tank comprising a storage tank input and a storage tank output,
• the membrane concentrate output of the membrane unit is hydraulically connected to the storage tank input for receiving concentrated hydrolyzing, acidifying, and hydrogen producing microorganisms from the first side of the membrane unit,
• the storage tank output is hydraulically connected to the completely mixed bioreactor for recirculating desired quantities of biomass from the storage tank to said completely mixed bioreactor, and to an output conduit from the storage tank for discharging of excess biomass.