Hydrogen Production in a Mesophilic and Termophilic Single-chambered Microbial Fuel Cell from Acidified Sugarcane Vinasse
The production of green hydrogen is widely researched as path of world descarbonization. Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is a bioelectrochemical process that use microorganism as economic biocatalysts, and electrochemical techniques for manipulating its metabolism. This recent technology relies on the use of renewable sources for hydrogen production such as streams with high organic matter. Therefore, this studio was based on the assessment of a single-chambered MEC for hydrogen production from acidified sugarcane vinasse. Two MEC were carried out in batch mode, one at 37 grade C poised at 0.8 V, 1.0 V and 1.2 V and, another at 55 grade C poised at 0.8 V, 0.9 V and 1.1 V. Hydrogen production rates was evaluated in relation to the specific surface area (PSA) and useful volume (PVOL) of the cell, and Coulombic efficiency, cathodic hydrogen recovery and molar fraction of hydrogen. The best hydrogen production was reached at 55 grade C under 1.1 V with PSA of 55.4 L H2/m2 d, PVOL of 1.55 L H2/.Ld and 96% molar fraction of hydrogen. It was found that the partial pressure of hydrogen affect the hydrogen evolution, leading to changes in the microbial pathway such as elongation-chain reactions through hydrogen reuse. Thermoanaerobacterium and Caproiciproducens were the most abundant genera identified in MEC at 37 grade C and Moorella in MEC at 55 grade C.