The impact of furfural concentrations and substrate-to-biomass ratios on biological hydrogen production from synthetic lignocellulosic hydrolysate using mesophilic anaerobic digester sludge.
This study evaluated the impact of furfural (a furan derivative) on hydrogen production rates and yields at initial substrate-to-microorganism ratios (S°/X°) of 4, 2, 1, and 0.5gCOD/gVSS and furfural concentrations of 4, 2, 1, and 0.5g/L. Fermentation studies were carried out in batches using synthetic lignocellulosic hydrolysate as substrate and mesophilic anaerobic digester sludge as seed. Contrary to other literature studies where furfural was inhibitory, this study showed that furfural concentrations of up to 1g/L enhanced hydrogen production with yields as high as 19% from the control (batch without furfural). Plots of hydrogen yields against gfurfural/gsugars and hydrogen yields versus gfurfural/gbiomass showed negative linear correlation indicating that these parameters influence biohydrogen production. Regression analysis indicated that gfurfural/gsugarsinitialexerted a greater effect on the degree of inhibition of hydrogen production than gfurfural/gVSSfinal.
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada.
Chinaza
C
Akobi
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada; GreenField Specialty Alcohols Inc., Chatham, Ontario N7M 5J4, Canada.
Hisham
H
Hafez
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada. Electronic address: gnakhla@uwo.ca.
George
G
Nakhla
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D005285:Fermentation; D005662:Furaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008031:Lignin; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry
D012722:Sewage; C036909:lignocellulose; D006859:Hydrogen; D008031:Lignin; D005662:Furaldehyde
Batch; Biohydrogen; Furfural; Lignocellulosic hydrolysate; Mesophilic anaerobic digester sludge