title: Maximising biohydrogen yields via continuous electrochemical hydrogen removal and carbon dioxide scrubbing.
abstract: The use of electrochemical hydrogen removal (EHR) together with carbon dioxide removal (CDR) was demonstrated for the first time using a continuous hydrogen producing fermenter. CDR alone was found to increase hydrogen yields from 0.07molH2molhexose to 0.72molH2molhexose. When CDR was combined with EHR, hydrogen yields increased further to 1.79molH2molhexose. The pattern of carbohydrate utilisation and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production are consistent with the hypothesis that increased yields are the result of relieving end product inhibition and inhibition of microbial hydrogen consumption. In situ removal of hydrogen and carbon dioxide as demonstrated here not only increase hydrogen yield but also produces a relatively pure product gas and unlike other approaches can be used to enhance conventional, mesophilic, CSTR type fermentation of low grade/high solids biomass.
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jaime.massanet@southwales.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massanet-Nicolau
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rhys Jon
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guwy
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dinsdale
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Premier
authors.affiliation: HyET Hydrogen Efficiency Technologies B.V., Leemansweg 15, 6827 BX Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martijn J J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mulder
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005285:Fermentation; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen
keywords: Anaerobic; Digestion; Hydrogen; Purification; Separation