Effects of starch loading rate on performance of combined fed-batch fermentation of ground wheat for bio-hydrogen production

ÖZMIHÇI S., Kargi F.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY, vol.35, no.3, pp.1106-1111, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 35 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.11.048
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1106-1111
  • Keywords: Bio-hydrogen, Combined dark-light fermentations, Fed-batch operation, Ground wheat starch, Starch loading rate, CONTINUOUS BIOHYDROGEN PRODUCTION, DARK FERMENTATION, CLOSTRIDIUM-BUTYRICUM, RHODOBACTER-SPHAEROIDES, PHOTO-FERMENTATION, LIGHT FERMENTATION, H-2 PRODUCTION, MIXED CULTURE, WASTE, SUBSTRATE
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Ground wheat powder solution (10 g L-1) was subjected to combined dark and light fermentations for bio-hydrogen production by fed-batch operation. A mixture of heat treated anaerobic sludge (AN) and Rhodobacter sphaeroides-NRRL (RS-NRRL) were used as the mixed culture of dark and light fermentation bacteria with an initial dark/light biomass ratio of 1/2. Effects of wheat starch loading rate on the rate and yield of bio-hydrogen formation were investigated. The highest cumulative hydrogen formation (CHF = 3460 ml), hydrogen yield (201 ml H-2 g(-1) starch) and formation rate (18.1 ml h(-1)) were obtained with a starch loading rate of 80.4 mg S h(-1). Complete starch hydrolysis and glucose fermentation were achieved within 96 h of fed-batch operation producing volatile fatty acids (VFA) and H-2. Fermentation of VFAs by photo-fermentation for bio-hydrogen production was most effective at starch loading rate of 80.4 mg S h(-1). Hydrogen formation by combined fermentation took place by a fast dark fermentation followed by a rather slow light fermentation after a lag period. (C) 2009 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.