Fermentative hydrogen production in an up-flow anaerobic biofilm reactor inoculated with a co-culture of Clostridium acetobutylicum and Desulfovibrio vulgaris.
Dark fermentation systems often show low H2yields and unstable H2production, as the result of the variability of microbial dynamics and metabolic pathways. Recent batch investigations have demonstrated that an artificial consortium of two anaerobic bacteria, Clostridium acetobutylicum and Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, may redirect metabolic fluxes and improve H2yields. This study aimed at evaluating the scale-up from batch to continuous H2production in an up-flow anaerobic packed-bed reactor (APBR) continuously fed with a glucose-medium. The effects of various parameters, including void hydraulic retention time (HRTv), pH, and alkalinity, on H2production performances and metabolic pathways were investigated. The results demonstrated that a stable H2production was reached after 3-4days of operation. H2production rates increased significantly with decreasing HRTv from 4 to 2h. Instead, H2yields remained almost stable despite the change in HRTv, indicating that the decrease in HRTv did not affect the global metabolism.
Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Marseille, France.
Cristian
C
Barca
CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, BIP, Marseille, France.
David
D
Ranava
CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, IMM, Marseille, France.
Marielle
M
Bauzan
Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Marseille, France.
Jean-Henry
JH
Ferrasse
CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, BIP, Marseille, France.
Marie-Thérèse
MT
Giudici-Orticoni
Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, M2P2, Marseille, France; CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, BIP, Marseille, France. Electronic address: audrey.soric@centrale-marseille.fr.
Audrey
A
Soric
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D046969:Clostridium acetobutylicum / Q000378:metabolism*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016969:Desulfovibrio vulgaris / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*
D006859:Hydrogen; D005947:Glucose
Anaerobic metabolism; Biogas; Bioprocess design; Microbial consortium; Packed bed bioreactors; Scale-up