International Journal of Waste Resources

Dark fermentative hydrogen gas production from molasses by hot spring microflora of Pamukkale travertines: Effects of temperature and inoculum percentage

5^th World Convention on Recycling and Waste Management

September 11- 12, 2017 Singapore

Hidayet Argun, Gulizar Onaran, Ismail Gorgul, Muhammed Enes Miynat, Handan Han, Ayse Calkaya, Zeynep Karaoglan, Nurce Keskin and Ikbal Oren

Pamukkale University, Turkey

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Int J Waste Resour

Abstract:

Hydrogen gas (H2) is considered as the energy carrier of the future and it is expected to be one of the most widely used fuels in the following decades. H2 has high energy content and its combustion does not result in greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is not readily available and conventional H2 production technologies such as steam reforming of methane require intensive energy and complex operation. Dark fermentative (DF) H2 production from wastes offers advantages over conventional technologies but it is still in research stage and has not found applicability at large scale due to low H2 yields and rates. In this study, H2 was produced for the first time from molasses by a microbial culture obtained from the travertines of Pamukkale hot springs in Turkey. In this context the effects of temperature and inoculation percentage (IP) on H2 production performance were investigated in batch experiments. The effects of IP was investigated at constant temperature of 37 oC by varying the IP between 1-30% (v/v) and the effects of temperature was carried out at 10% (v/v) IP by varying the temperature between 25-70 oC. Optimum IP and temperature resulting maximum hydrogen yield (202.32 mL H2/g COD), rate (14.02 mL H2/h) and H2 percentage (41.83) were 37 oC and 10% (v/v), respectively. The maximum H2 yield of this study corresponds to 42.15% of the theoretical yield in dark fermentation indicating effective performance at mesophilic conditions.