The effect of the surface charge of hydrogel supports on thermophilic biohydrogen production.
The effect of the surface charge of different immobilizing hydrogels on biohydrogen production in batch cultures was investigated using a novel isolate associated to the genus Thermoanaerobacterium. Two crosslinked polysaccharide-based hydrogels and two acrylic hydrogels were tested as polymeric carriers for cell adsorption. Immobilization improved both substrate conversion and hydrogen cumulative production compared to the suspended culture, and a yield of 1.9 mol H(2)/mol glucose was observed after 24h for alginate-supported cultures. Cationic carriers dramatically increased cell immobilization, leading to markedly faster kinetics of substrate degradation and hydrogen production in batch operation, with a peak of 3.6 mol H(2)/mol glucose for the acrylic hydrogel HM92. Accumulation of gaseous and acidic metabolites inhibited further H(2) production, shifting the carbon flow to reduced end-products and biomass synthesis. Preliminary tests showed that all the tested hydrogels had good durability and allowed hydrogen production on repeated batch runs.
Institute of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, CNR - Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Na), Italy.
Maria Assunta
MA
Basile
Laura
L
Dipasquale
Agata
A
Gambacorta
Monica Filomena
MF
Vella
Anna
A
Calarco
Pierfrancesco
P
Cerruti
Mario
M
Malinconico
Giovanna Gomez
GG
d'Ayala
D000042:Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010802:Phylogeny; D012995:Solubility / Q000187:drug effects; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D013696:Temperature; D046950:Thermoanaerobacterium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D056804:Biofuels; D014867:Water; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D006859:Hydrogen