Continuous biohydrogen production from starch with granulated mixed bacterial microflora

Ching Hsiung Wang, Jo Shu Chang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This work demonstrates a continuous-flow biohydrogen producing system able to produce H2 from starch at a high volumetric rate of over 4 L h-1 L-1. Using phosphate-buffered medium containing cassava starch (15 g/L) as the feed, sludge granulation occurred within 15 days after start-up while operating at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2.2 h, enabling efficient biomass retention in the bioreactor. Operation at a progressively decreasing HRT of 5.3-0.5 h gave rise to a H2 content of nearly 50% (i.e., a CO2/H2 ratio of 1.0) and a H2 yield of 0.97-1.43 mol of H2/mol of hexose, which is 26-37% from the theoretical value. Operation at 0.5 h of HRT gave the highest H2 production rate of 4.12 L h-1 L-1, respectively, while further shortening, of the HRT resulted in a washout of cells. The H2 production rate obtained from this work appears to be much higher than those indicated in comparable studies using starch to produce H2 via dark fermentation. The soluble metabolites were dominated by butyric acid (54-72% of total soluble products), followed by ethanol and acetic acid. The results indicate the feasibility of using starch as an inexpensive carbon substrate for high-rate and low-cost production of bio-H2 via a granular-sludge-based continuous-flow bioreactor.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)93-97
Number of pages5
JournalEnergy and Fuels
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008 Jan

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Fuel Technology
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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