Effect of initial pH on thermophilic fermentative hydrogen production from cassava ethanol wastewater

Gang Luo, Li Xie, Zhonghai Zou, Qi Zhou

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearch

Abstract

The effect of initial pH (4.0-10.0) on thermophilic fermentative hydrogen production from cassava ethanol wastewater was investigated in batch experiments. Results show maximum hydrogen product (383 mL) is obtained at initial pH 6.0 and the corresponding hydrogen yield is 70 mL·g-1. The total amount of VFA/ethanol and the proportion of acetic acid in the VFA increase with the increase of pH. The distribution of aqueous products is always dominated by butyrate. The heat-pretreatment at 90°C for 1h cannot completely inhibit the activities of methanogenic bacteria and homoacetogenic bacteria. Hydrogen consumption at different degrees was observed at initial pH 6.0-10.0, and methane was detected at initial pH 9.0-10.0 during the fermentative process. The degradation of substrates in cassava ethanol wastewater and fermentative products further demonstrate that the hydrogen is generated from the production of butyrate, resulted from the carbohydrate degradation.
Original languageEnglish
JournalTongji Daxue Xuebao/Journal of Tongji University
Volume38
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)1036-1040,1068
ISSN0253-374X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

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