The gasification of some selected components of food wastes using H2O2 as the oxidant and in the presence of NaOH has been investigated under subcritical water conditions. Hydrogen production was enhanced when both NaOH and H2O2 were used compared to when either NaOH or H2O2 alone was used or in their absence. Results indicated that the H2O2 acted to partially oxidize the samples while NaOH significantly increased hydrogen gas yields by promoting the water-gas shift reaction with subsequent CO2 capture. In the presence of NaOH, the main components were Na2CO3, CH3COONa and CH3COO-Na center dot 3H(2)O. Char and tar production were suppressed in the presence of NaOH. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.