Anaerobic fluidized bed reactor with expanded clay as support for hydrogen production through dark fermentation of glucose

Author(s)

Cavalcante de Amorim, Eduardo Lucena ^[1] ; Barros, Aruana Rocha ^[2] ; Rissato Zamariolli Damianouic, Marcia Helena ^[2] ; Silva, Edson Luiz ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Hydraul & Sanitat, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Chem Engn, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY; v. 34, n. 2, p. 783-790, JAN 2009.
• Web of Science Citations: 49

Abstract

This study evaluated hydrogen production in an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) fed with glucose-based synthetic wastewater. Particles of expanded clay (2.8-3.35 mm) were used as a support material for biomass immobilization. The reactor was operated with hydraulic retention times (HRT) ranging from 8 to 1 h. The hydrogen yield production increased from 1.41 to 2.49 mol H(2) Mol(-1) glucose as HRT decreased from 8 to 2 h. However, when HRT was 1 h, there was a slight decrease to 2.41 mol H(2) Mol(-1) glucose. The biogas produced was composed of H(2) and CO(2), and the H(2) content increased from 8% to 35% as HRT decreased. The major soluble metabolites during H(2) fermentation were acetic acid (HAc) and butyric acid (HBu), accounting for 36.1-53.3% and 37.7-44.9% of total soluble metabolites, respectively. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of using expanded clay as support material for hydrogen production in AFBRs. (c) 2008 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 05/51702-9 - Development of combined systems of treatment of residuary waters aimed at removal of pollutants and recovery of energy and of products from the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles
• Grantee: Eugenio Foresti
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants