Optimization and modeling of biohydrogen production by mixed bacterial cultures from raw cassava starch

Abstract

The production of bio-hydrogen from raw cassava starch via a mixed-culture dark fermentation process was investigated. The production yield of H₂ was optimized by adjusting the substrate concentration and the microorganism mixture ratio. A maximum H₂ yield of 1.72 mol H₂/mol glucose was obtained with a cassava starch concentration of 10 g/L to give a 90% utilization rate. The kinetics of the substrate utilization and of the generation of both hydrogen and volatile fatty acids were also investigated. The substrate utilization follows pseudo first order reaction kinetics, whereas the production of both H₂ and the VFAs correlate with the Gompertz equation. These results show that cassava is a good candidate for the production of biohydrogen.

Key words： cassava; biohydrogen; mixed cultures; kinetics

Acknowledgements

The authors express their thanks for the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21525625), the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, Grant No. 2014CB745100), the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program, Grant No. 2013AA020302).

References

1 Wang H, Zhang L, Chen Z, Hu J, Li S, Wang Z, Liu J, Wang X. Semiconductor heterojunction photocatalysts: Design, construction, and photocatalytic performances. Chemical Society Reviews, 2014, 43(15): 5234–5244

2 Jiang S P, Shen P K, Sun A X, Sun S, Qiao J. Preface to the special section on “International Conference on Electrochemical Energy Science and Technology (EEST2014), 31 October–4 November 2014, Shanghai, China”. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2015, 40(41): 14271

3 Chen C Y, Yang M H, Yeh K L, Chang J S. Biohydrogen production using sequential two-stage dark and photo fermentation processes. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33(18): 4755–4762

4 Gadhamshetty V, Sukumaran A, Nirmalakhandan N, Theinmyint M. Photofermentation of malate for biohydrogen production—a modeling approach. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33(9): 2138–2146

5 Lin C Y, Jo C H. Hydrogen production from sucrose using an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor process. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 2003, 78(6): 678–684

6 Sreethawong T, Chatsiriwatana S, Rangsunvigit P, Chavadej S. Hydrogen production from cassava wastewater using an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor: Effects of operational parameters, COD: N ratio, and organic acid composition. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2010, 35(9): 4092–4102

7 Wang S, Zhang T, Su H. Enhanced hydrogen production from corn starch wastewater as nitrogen source by mixed cultures. Renewable Energy, 2016, 96: 1135–1141

8 Kapdan I K, Kargi F. Bio-hydrogen production from waste materials. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 2006, 38(5): 569–582

9 Manish S, Banerjee R. Comparison of biohydrogen production processes. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33(1): 279–286

10 Meherkotay S, Das D. Biohydrogen as a renewable energy resource—prospects and potentials. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33(1): 258–263

11 Angenent L T, Wrenn B A. Optimizing mixed-culture bioprocessing to convert wastes into bionergy. Bioenergy, 2008, 179–194

12 Sydney E B, Larroche C, Novak A C, Nouaille R, Sarma S J, Brar S K, Letti L A J, Soccol V T, Soccol C R. Economic process to produce biohydrogen and volatile fatty acids by a mixed culture using vinasse from sugarcane ethanol industry as nutrient source. Bioresource Technology, 2014, 159(6): 380–386

13 Wei Z, Zhang Y, Du B, Dong W, Qin W, Zhao Y. Enhancement effect of silver nanoparticles on fermentative biohydrogen production using mixed bacteria. Bioresource Technology, 2013, 142(8): 240–245

14 Ghimire A, Sposito F, Frunzo L, Lens P N, Pirozzi F, Esposito G. Improved dark fermentative hydrogen yields from complex waste biomass using mixed anaerobic cultures. Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, 2015, 2(2): 1

15 Argun H, Kargi F. Bio-hydrogen production from ground wheat starch by continuous combined fermentation using annular-hybrid bioreactor. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2010, 35(12): 6170–6178

16 Bao M, Su H, Tan T. Biohydrogen production by dark fermentation of starch using mixed bacterial cultures of bacillus sp. and brevumdimonas sp. Energy & Fuels, 2012, 26(9): 5872–5878

17 Hu B, Chen S. Pretreatment of methanogenic granules for immobilized hydrogen fermentation. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2007, 32(15): 3266–3273

18 Mu Y, Yu H Q, Wang G. Evaluation of three methods for enriching H₂-producing cultures from anaerobic sludge. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 2007, 40(4): 947–953

19 Chaganti S R, Kim D H, Lalman J A, Shewa W A. Statistical optimization of factors affecting biohydrogen production from xylose fermentation using inhibited mixed anaerobic cultures. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2012, 37(16): 11710–11718

20 Masset J, Calusinska M, Hamilton C, Joris B, Wilmotte A, Thonart P. Fermentative hydrogen production from glucose and starch using pure strains and artificial co-cultures of Clostridium spp. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 2012, 5(1): 1

21 Chen W, Wu F, Zhang J. Potential production of non-food biofuels in China. Renewable Energy, 2016, 85: 939–944

22 Baeyens J, Kang Q, Appels L, Dewil R, Lv Y, Tan T. Challenges and opportunities in improving the production of bio-ethanol. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 2015, 47: 60–88

23 Luo X. Strategies for developing cassava industry in Guangxi. Zhongguo Nongxue Tongbao, 2004, 20(6): 376–379

24 Li Z, Huang Z, Yang Z, Chen D. The harmful factors and countermeasure influencing development of cassava fuel-alcohol industry. Renewable Energy Resources, 2008, 26(3): 106–110

25 Hu Z, Fang F, Ben D F, Pu G, Wang C. Net energy, CO₂ emission, and life-cycle cost assessment of cassava-based ethanol as an alternative automotive fuel in (the) PRC. Applied Energy, 2004, 78(3): 247–256

26 Hu Z, Tan P, Pu G. Multi-objective optimization of cassava-based fuel ethanol used as an alternative automotive fuel in Guangxi, China. Applied Energy, 2006, 83(8): 819–840

27 Zhang T, Bao M D, Wang Y, Su H J, Tan T W. Genome sequence of Bacillus cereus strain A1, an efficient starch-utilizing producer of hydrogen. Genome Announcements, 2014, 2(3): e00494–e14

28 Zhang T, Bao M D, Wang Y, Su H J, Tan T W. Genome sequence of a promising hydrogen-producing facultative anaerobic bacterium, Brevundimonas naejangsanensis strain B1. Genome Announcements, 2014, 2(3): e00542–e14

29 Bao M D, Su H J, Tan T W. Dark fermentative bio-hydrogen production: Effects of substrate pre-treatment and addition of metal ions or L-cysteine. Fuel, 2013, 112: 38–44

30 Wang J, Wan W. Factors influencing fermentative hydrogen production: A review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2009, 34(2): 799–811

31 Ginkel S V, Sung S, Lay J J. Biohydrogen production as a function of pH and substrate concentration. Environmental Science & Technology, 2001, 35(24): 4726–4730

32 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. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2012, 166(5): 1248–1263

33 Chen W M, Tseng Z J, Lee K S, Chang J S. Fermentative hydrogen production with Clostridium butyricum CGS5 isolated from anaerobic sewage sludge. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2005, 30(10): 1063–1070

34 Ren N Q, Wang B Z, Ma F. A physiological ecology analysis of acidogenic fermentation of organic wastewater. China Biogas, 1995, 13(1): 1–6

35 Yokoi H, Tokushige T, Hirose J, Hayashi S, Takasaki Y H. H₂production from starch by a mixed culture of Clostridium butyricum and Enterobacter aerogenes. Biotechnology Letters, 1998, 20(2): 143–147

36 Vatsala T M, Raj S M, Manimaran A. A pilot-scale study of biohydrogen production from distillery effluent using defined bacterial co-culture. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33(20): 5404–5415

37 Argun H, Kargi F. Effects of sludge pre-treatment method on bio-hydrogen production by dark fermentation of waste ground wheat. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2009, 34(20): 8543–8548

38 Appels L, Baeyens J, Degrève J, Dewil R. Principles and potential of the anaerobic digestion of waste-activated sludge. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 2008, 34(6): 755–781

39 Hsiao C L, Chang J J, Wu J H, Chin W C, Wen F S, Huang C C, Chen C C, Lin C Y. Clostridium strain co-cultures for biohydrogen production enhancement from condensed molasses fermentation solubles. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2009, 34(17): 7173–7181

40 Lee K S, Hsu Y F, Lo Y C, Lin P J, Lin C Y, Chang J S. Exploring optimal environmental factors for fermentative hydrogen production from starch using mixed anaerobic microflora. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2008, 33(5): 1565–1572