Characteristics of hydrogen and methane production from cornstalks by an augmented two- or three-stage anaerobic fermentation process.
This paper presents the co-production of hydrogen and methane from cornstalks by a two- or three-stage anaerobic fermentation process augmented with effective artificial microbial community. Two-stage fermentation by using the anaerobic sludge and DGGE analysis showed that effective and stable strains should be introduced into the system. We introduced Enterobacter aerogens or Clostridium paraputrificum into the hydrogen stage, and C. paraputrificum was proven to be more effective. In the three-stage process consisting of the improved hydrolysis, hydrogen and methane production stages, the highest soluble sugars (0.482 kg/kg cornstalks) were obtained after the introduction of Clostridium thermocellum in the hydrolysis stage, under the thermophilic (55 degrees C) and acidic (pH 5.0) conditions. Hydrolysates from 1 kg of cornstalks could produce 2.61 mol (63.7 l) hydrogen by augmentation with C. paraputrificum and 4.69 mol (114.6 l) methane by anaerobic granular sludge, corresponding to 54.1% energy recovery.
Lu
Yuan
Y
Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Tsinghua Yuan, Beijing 100084, China.
Lai
Qiheng
Q
Zhang
Chong
C
Zhao
Hongxin
H
Ma
Kun
K
Zhao
Xuebing
X
Chen
Hongzhang
H
Liu
Dehua
D
Xing
Xin-Hui
XH
D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013227:Steam; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*
D013227:Steam; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane