Sugarcane vinasse as substrate for fermentative hydrogen production: The effects of temperature and substrate concentration

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 39; no. 12; pp. 6407 - 6418
• Main Authors: LAZARO, Carolina Zampol, PERNA, Veronica, ETCHEBEHERE, Claudia, VARESCHE, Maria Bernadete A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01.04.2014
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Clostridium; Communities; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Hydrogen; Hydrogen production; Hydrogen-based energy; Impact tests; Microorganisms; Organisms; Thermoanaerobacter; Vinasse; Clostridium; Mesophilic; Thermoanaerobacterium; Homoacetogenesis; Hydrogen; Clostridiaceae; Clostridiales; Bacteria; Thermophilic; Hydrogen production
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.02.058

The present study aimed to evaluate the hydrogen production of a microbial consortium using different concentrations of sugarcane vinasse (2-12 g COD L super(-1)) at 37 degree C and 55 degree C. In mesophilic tests, the increase in vinasse concentration did not significantly impact the hydrogen yield (HY) (from 1.72 to 2.23 mmol H sub(2) g super(-1) COD sub(influent)) but had a positive effect on the hydrogen production potential (P) and hydrogen production rate (R sub(m)). On the other hand, the increase in the substrate concentration caused a drop in HY from 2.31 to 0.44 mmol H sub(2) g super(-1) COD sub(influent) in the tests performed at 55 degree C with vinasse concentrations from 2 to 12 g COD L super(-1). The mesophilic community was composed of different species within the Clostridium genus, and the thermophilic community was dominated by organisms affiliated with the Thermoanaerobacter genus. Not all isolates affiliated with the Clostridium genus contributed to a high HY, as the homoacetogenic pathway can occur.