In this study, the impact of ozonation abetted with the citric acid pretreatment (OZCAP) method on fruit waste was investigated for ameliorating hydrogen production. Initially, the ozonation pretreatment (OZP) method was performed by varying ozone (O3) dosage and disintegration time. At optimized conditions (O3 dosage (0.04 g/g suspended solid; SS) and disintegration time (40 minutes)), 17.6% of liquefied organics emancipate rate (LER) and 13.5% of SS reduction were perceived. Further augmenting LER of fruit waste, OZCAP method was proceeded by varying citric acid dosage and disintegration time at an optimized OZP dosage (0.04 g/g SS). A higher LER (24.4%) and SS reduction (19%) were described at an optimal citric acid dosage (0.03 g/g SS) and disintegration time (20 minutes). Then, the hydrogen production potential of OZCAP, OZP and raw fruit waste were evaluated in which OZCAP method exhibited a higher cumulative hydrogen production (30 mL/g volatile solids). Energy valuation reveals that OZCAP method exhibited a net energy of 3.7 kWh/kg of fruit waste.
