Biohydrogen production from glucose in upflow biofilm reactors with plastic carriers under extreme thermophilic conditions (70 degrees C).
Biohydrogen could efficiently be produced in glucose-fed biofilm reactors filled with plastic carriers and operated at 70 degrees C. Batch experiments were, in addition, conducted to enrich and cultivate glucose-fed extreme-thermophilic hydrogen producing microorganisms from a biohydrogen CSTR reactor fed with household solid waste. Kinetic analysis of the biohydrogen enrichment cultures show that substrate (glucose) likely inhibited hydrogen production when its concentration was higher than 1 g/L. Different start up strategies were applied for biohydrogen production in biofilm reactors operated at 70 degrees C, and fed with synthetic medium with glucose as the only carbon and energy source. A biofilm reactor, started up with plastic carriers, that were previously inoculated with the enrichment cultures, resulted in higher hydrogen yield (2.21 mol H(2)/mol glucose consumed) but required longer start up time (1 month), while a biofilm reactor directly inoculated with the enrichment cultures reached stable state much faster (8 days) but with very low hydrogen yield (0.69 mol H(2)/mol glucose consumed). These results indicate that hydraulic pressure is necessary for successful immobilization of bacteria on carriers, while there is the risk of washing out specific high yielding bacteria.
Zheng
Hang
H
Department of Environmental Engineering, DTU, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark. ria@env.dtu.dk
Zeng
Raymond J
RJ
Angelidaki
Irini
I
D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure
D010969:Plastics; D006859:Hydrogen; D005947:Glucose