Abstract
Long-term operation for biohydrogen production with an efficient carrier-induced granular sludge bed (CIGSB) bioreactor had encountered problems with poor biomass retention at a low hydraulic retention (HRT) as well as poor mass-transfer efficiency at a high HRT or under a prolonged operation period. This work was undertaken to develop strategies enabling better biomass retention and mass-transfer efficiency of the CIGSB reactors. Supplementation of calcium ion was found to enhance mechanical strength of the granular sludge. Addition of 5.4-27.2 mg/l of Ca 2+ also led to an over three-fold increase in biomass concentration and a nearly five-fold increase in the H 2 production rate (up to 5.1 l H 2/h/l). Two reflux strategies were utilized to enhance the mass-transfer efficiency of the CIGSB system. The liquid reflux (LR) strategy enhanced the H 2 production rate by 2.2-fold at an optimal liquid upflow velocity of 1.09 m/h, which also gave a maximal biomass concentration of ca. 22 g VSS/l. Similar optimal H 2 production rate was also obtained with the gas reflux (GR) strategy at a rate of 1.0-1.49 m/h, whereas the biomass concentration decreased to 2-7 g VSS/l and thereby the specific H 2 production rate was higher than that with LR. The operation strategies applied in this work were effective to allow stable and efficient H 2 production for nearly 100 days.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 605-612 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Enzyme and Microbial Technology |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 6-7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2004 Dec 1 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Biotechnology
- Bioengineering
- Biochemistry
- Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology