The application of an innovative continuous multiple tube reactor as a strategy to control the specific organic loading rate for biohydrogen production by dark fermentation.
Biohydrogen production in fixed-bed reactors often leads to unstable and decreasing patterns because the excessive accumulation of biomass in the bed negatively affects the specific organic loading rate (SOLR) applied to the reactor. In this context, an innovative reactor configuration, i.e., the continuous multiple tube reactor (CMTR), was assessed in an attempt to better control the SOLR for biohydrogen production. The CMTR provides a continuous discharge of biomass, preventing the accumulation of solids in the long-term. Sucrose was used as the carbon source and mesophilic temperature conditions (25°C) were applied in three continuous assays. The reactor showed better performance when support material was placed in the outlet chamber to enhance biomass retention within the reactor. Although the SOLR could not be effectively controlled, reaching values usually higher than 10gsucroseg(-1)VSSd(-1), the volumetric hydrogen production and molar hydrogen production rates peaked, respectively, at 1470mLH2L(-1)d(-1) and 45mmolH2d(-1), indicating that the CMTR was a suitable configuration for biohydrogen production.
Center of Exact and Technological Sciences, State University of West Paraná (UNIOESTE), 2069 Universitária Street, 85819-210 Cascavel, PR, Brazil; Biological Processes Laboratory, São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), 1100 João Dagnone Avenue, 13563-120 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Simone D
SD
Gomes
Biological Processes Laboratory, São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), 1100 João Dagnone Avenue, 13563-120 São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: ltfuess@sc.usp.br.
Lucas T
LT
Fuess
Biological Processes Laboratory, São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), 1100 João Dagnone Avenue, 13563-120 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Eduardo D
ED
Penteado
Center of Exact and Technological Sciences, State University of West Paraná (UNIOESTE), 2069 Universitária Street, 85819-210 Cascavel, PR, Brazil.
Shaiane D M
SD
Lucas
Center of Exact and Technological Sciences, State University of West Paraná (UNIOESTE), 2069 Universitária Street, 85819-210 Cascavel, PR, Brazil.
Jackeline T
JT
Gotardo
Biological Processes Laboratory, São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), 1100 João Dagnone Avenue, 13563-120 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Marcelo
M
Zaiat
D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon; D005285:Fermentation; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*
D002244:Carbon; D006859:Hydrogen
Biohydrogen production; Biomass washout; Continuous multiple tube reactor; Innovative configuration; Specific organic loading rate