Influence of seed sludge and pretreatment method on hydrogen production in packed-bed anaerobic reactors

Author(s)

Penteado, Eduardo Dellosso ^[1] ; Lazaro, Carolina Zampol ^[1] ; Sakamoto, Isabel Kimiko ^[1] ; Zaiat, Marcelo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, EESC, LPB, Ctr Pesquisa Desenvolvimento & Inovacao Engn Ambi, BR-13563120 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY; v. 38, n. 14, p. 6137-6145, MAY 10 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 82

Abstract

Several studies have reported on the effects of inoculums source and pretreatment on biological hydrogen production. However, there have been few studies on continuous reactors. This paper investigated the influence of different seed sludge sources and pretreatment methods on biohydrogen production in up-flow anaerobic fixed-bed reactors fed with sucrose. The following inoculum sources were included in the study: (1) anaerobic sludge from an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor used to treat poultry slaughterhouse wastewater (Sl), (2) anaerobic sludge from a UASB reactor used to treat swine wastewater (Sw) and (3) autofermentation (A). Heat (He) and acid (Ac) shock were used to increase hydrogen production and suppress hydrogen consumption. The average hydrogen yields (HY) in the experiment were 2.1 (A), 2.0 (SlHe), 2.0 (SlAc), 1.0 (Sl), 1.0 (SwAc), 0.7 (SwHe) and 0.7 (Sw) mol H-2 mol(-1) sucrose. Although heat shock produced the maximum HY value (SlHe), acid pretreatment (SlAc) resulted in more stable hydrogen production with the largest average value, which could be an advantage of using pH shock. The autofermentation process presented HY values similar to those produced with SlAc and SlHe, making it a suitable seed sludge for biohydrogen production because pretreatment was not required. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/15984-0 - Bioenergy production from wastewaters and environmental fitting of liquid and solid wastes generated
• Grantee: Marcelo Zaiat
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 09/00135-8 - Evaluation of the production of hydrogen and characterization of microbial anaerobic batch reactors fed with vinasse
• Grantee: Carolina Zampol Lazaro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 10/03927-0 - Influence of source of inoculum in the biological production of hydrogen from wastewater in anaerobic reactor
• Grantee: Eduardo Dellosso Penteado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master