Abstract
H2 can be obtained from glucose by fermentation at mesophilic temperatures, but here we demonstrate that hydrogen can also be obtained from glucose at low temperatures using microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). H2 was produced from glucose at 4°C in single-chamber MECs at a yield of about 6mol H2mol-1 glucose, and at rates of 0.25±0.03-0.37±0.04m3 H2m-3d-1. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene and electrochemical analyses showed that syntrophic interactions combining glucose fermentation with the oxidization of fermentation products by exoelectrogens was the predominant pathway for current production at a low temperature other than direct glucose oxidization by exoelectrogens. Another syntrophic interaction, methanogenesis and homoacetogenesis, which have been found in 25°C reactors, were not detected in MECs at 4°C. These results demonstrate the feasibility of H2 production from abundant biomass of carbohydrates at low temperature in MECs. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 68-76 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Bioresource Technology |
| Volume | 124 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUS-I1-003-13
Acknowledgements: This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51178140 and 30900046), Fok Ying-Tong Education Foundation for Young Teachers in the Higher Education Institutions of China (No. 131076), the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51121062), and award KUS-I1-003-13 from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.
