Comparision of Hydrogen Gas Production from Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch and Glucose by Different Anaerobic Cultures

Abstract

Biological hydrogen production capacities of different dark fermentative microbial cultures from hydrolyzed wheat
powder were investigated in this study. Sugar solution obtained from acid hydrolysis of wheat powder at 90o
C for 15 min was used as carbon source. The dark fermentative organisms were Clostridium acetobu tylicum (CAB), Clost ridium
butyricum (CB), a mixture of those cultures (MIX) and heat treated anaerobic sludge (ANS). Initial total sugar
concentration was TS0=15 g/L. Hydrogen gas production by the same cultures from pure glucose with G0= 15 g/L initial
concentration was also studied. Total sugar consumption and hydrogen gas volume were monitored and cumulative
hydrogen gas volume (ml), hydrogen production yield (YH2; mol/mol glucose) and specific hydrogen production rate
(SHPR ml H2 /g biomass h) were determined. Heat treated anaerobic sludge resulted in the highest yield (1.64 mol/mol
glucose) and specific rate of hydrogen gas production (32.3 ml H2 /g biomass h) from hydrolyzed wheat starch as
compared to the pure Clostridium cultures and the mixture. Slightly higher yields and rates were obtained when pure
glucose was used as carbon source.