Biohydrogen production from baggase using anaerobic mixed microflora

  • Dr Feng Chang, Research Center for Energy and Resources, Feng Chia University, P.O. Box 25-123, Taichung 40724, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Mr Chung Liau, BioHydrogen Laboratory, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Feng Chia University, P.O. Box 25-123, Taichung 40724, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Mr Chih Yeh, BioHydrogen Laboratory, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Feng Chia University, P.O. Box 25-123, Taichung 40724, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Mr Zong Sie, Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, Feng Chia University, P.O. Box 25-123, Taichung 40724, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Prof Chiu Lin, BioHydrogen Laboratory, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Feng Chia University, P.O. Box 25-123, Taichung 40724, Taiwan

    • Dark fermentation is considered as the most commercially feasible biological means of producing H2 due to its high production rate and having an additional benefit of waste reduction. Sugarcane is one of high efficient crops in photosynthesis. This work was aimed to investigate the feasibility of biohydrogen production from baggase using anaerobic mixed microflora.
    The seed sludge was obtained from a hot spring. It was screened with sieve No.8 (2.35 mm) to eliminate large particulate materials and it had pH and volatile suspended solids concentrations of 5.42 and 4,432 mg/L, respectively. Before being seeded into the reactor, the screened seed sludge was heat-treated at 95ºC for 45 min to inhibit the methane-producing bacteria activity. The baggase was bake and broken into 0.35-0.75 mm. Two feedstock baggases, i.e., raw and acid hydrolysis pre-treated (150 oC, 1 h) were tested in concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 g/L. High feedstock concentration enhanced the hydrogen production rate. A peak hydrogen production rate (Rm) of 23.8 mL/h occurred at a raw baggase concentration of 5 g/L; this Rm value is 71% higher than that obtained from using the acid-pretreated baggase. Although the total sugar concentration of the acid-pretreated feedstock was 56.8% higher than that of the untreated baggase, the accumulative hydrogen production decreased by 56.8%. This might be due to the presence of the by-products in the acid-hydrolyzed baggase substrate, causing inhibitory effects on the hydrogenic activity. The major soluble metabolites were acetate (31-54.4%), propionate, butyrate (31-47.7-39.9%) and ethanol.