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Effect of Substrate Concentration on Dark Fermentation Hydrogen Production Using an Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor

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Abstract

The effect of substrate (glucose) concentration on the stability and yield of a continuous fermentative process that produces hydrogen was studied. Four anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBRs) were operated with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 1 to 8 h and an influent glucose concentration from 2 to 25 g L−1. The reactors were inoculated with thermally pre-treated anaerobic sludge and operated at a temperature of 30 °C with an influent pH around 5.5 and an effluent pH of about 3.5. The AFBRs with a HRT of 2 h and a feed strength of 2, 4, and 10 g L−1 showed satisfactory H2 production performance, but the reactor fed with 25 g L−1 of glucose did not. The highest hydrogen yield value was obtained in the reactor with a glucose concentration of 2 g L−1 when it was operated at a HRT of 2 h. The maximum hydrogen production rate value was achieved in the reactor with a HRT of 1 h and a feed strength of 10 g L−1. The AFBRs operated with glucose concentrations of 2 and 4 g L−1 produced greater amounts of acetic and butyric acids, while AFBRs with higher glucose concentrations produced a greater amount of solvents.

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Abbreviations

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand, mg L−1

HRT:

Hydraulic retention time, h

HPR:

Hydrogen production rate, L h−1 L−1

HY:

Hydrogen yield, mol H2 mol−1 glucose

HAc:

Acetic acid concentration, mg L−1

HBu:

Butyric acid concentration, mg L−1

HPr:

Propionic acid concentration, mg L−1

EtOH:

Ethanol concentration, mg L−1

MetOH:

Methanol concentration, mg L−1

SMP:

Soluble microbial products, mg L−1

TVFA:

Total volatile fatty acids, mg L−1

VFA:

Volatile fatty acids, mg L−1

AFBR:

Anaerobic fluidized bed reactor

FID:

Flame ionization detector

R2:

Reactor fed with glucose concentration of 2 g L−1

R4:

Reactor fed with glucose concentration of 4 g L−1

R10:

Reactor fed with glucose concentration of 10 g L−1

R25:

Reactor fed with glucose concentration of 25 g L−1

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of FAPESP, CNPq, and CAPES.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador Sãocarlense, 400, Centro, CEP 13566-590, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Eduardo Lucena Cavalcante de Amorim

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luis, km 235, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Leandro Takano Sader & Edson Luiz Silva

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  1. Eduardo Lucena Cavalcante de Amorim
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Correspondence to Edson Luiz Silva.

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de Amorim, E.L.C., Sader, L.T. & Silva, E.L. Effect of Substrate Concentration on Dark Fermentation Hydrogen Production Using an Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 166, 1248–1263 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-011-9511-9

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