Biohydrogen production from organic wastes using dark and photo fermentations

• Main Author: Hu, Chengcheng
• Other Authors: Wang Jing-Yuan
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Waste management
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/68809
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Hydrogen is considered a viable and promising alternative fuel for the future because of its renewability and clean burning nature. This study developed an integrated dark and photo fermentation for hydrogen production from organic waste. In dark fermentation, C. butyricum and C. beijerinckii - dark fermentative bacteria – were investigated to efficiently convert food waste to hydrogen and organic acids. As well, after the pre-treatment (autoclaving and pH adjustment) of food waste, hydrogen production was highly enhanced. Photo fermentative bacteria R. palustris further converted the main organic acids (acetate, butyrate and lactate) from food waste fermentation to hydrogen under the incandescent lighting system. The mutant R. palustris NifA* produced hydrogen with the existence of ammonium. Non-growing cells highly improved substrate conversation efficiency in photo fermentation. Besides, a combined co-culture (C. butyricum and R. palustris NifA*) system was developed for hydrogen production. RNAseq study was applied to further explain the mechanism of the complex system.