Thermophilic biohydrogen production from sugarcane molasses under low pH: Metabolic and microbial aspects

Author(s)

Oliveira, Cristiane Arruda ^[1] ; Fuess, Lucas Tadeu ^{[1, 2]} ; Soares, Lais Americo ^[1] ; Rissato Zamariolli Damianovic, Marcia Helena ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Res Dev & Innovat Environm Engn, Sao Carlos Sch Engn EESC, Environm Engn, Biol Proc Lab, Bloco 4-F, Av Joao Dagnone, 1100 Santa Angelina, BR-13563120 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo DEQ EP USP, Polytech Sch, Chem Engn Dept, Conjunto Quim, Av Prof Lineu Prestes 580, Bloco 18, BR-05508000 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY; v. 45, n. 7, p. 4182-4192, FEB 7 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

By-products from sugarcane mills have a considerable energy potential, and therefore have been studied aiming to generate biogas emphasising biohydrogen (bioH(2)). Sugarcane molasses, a byproduct from sugar production, are rich in carbohydrates, thus easily biodegraded by anaerobic microorganisms. This study evaluated the production of bioH(2) in unfavorable pH (3.80) using molasses as a feedstock in an anaerobic structured bed reactor (AnSTBR-A) under thermophilic conditions (55 degrees C). The AnSTBR-A operated with an organic loading rate (OLR) of 60 g L-1 d(-1) was able to produce bioH(2) under long-term operation (392 days). The hydrogen yield (HY) was 1.18 mol H-2 mol total carbohydrates(-1). The results highlighted HY variation concomitant with metabolite concentrations. The main role to bioH(2) production in AnSTBR-A was acetate + lactate -> butyric + bioH(2), with a predominance of the organism belonging to the Thermoanaerobacterium genus. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/06246-7 - Biorefinery concept applied to biological wastewater treatment plants: environmental pollution control coupled with material and energy recovery
• Grantee: Marcelo Zaiat
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants