Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

The present study investigates the effect of PH, RPM and substrate concentration (Sweet sorghum juice) on biological hydrogen production using cattle dung (containing mixed culture) as the source of inoculum. Initial PH was found to have a profound effect on hydrogen production, while regulating the PH 6.5 through out the fermentation was found to increase the cumulative hydrogen production significantly. At regulated PH (6.5) and RPM (150) higher H2 production (2800 ml/150 ml juice) was recorded. The volatile fatty acids are always associated with hydrogen production and the amount of VFA obtained in the present study is 2600 mg /L. Further, maintaining the PH of medium at 6.5 investigations were carried out to study the effect of microbial community in cattle dung to acidic environment using HCl at varying concentrations. It was also found that the microbial community in cattle dung was adapted to acidic environment obtained using 0.2 N HCl enhanced the biological hydrogen production. However, use of HCl beyond 0.2N for adaptation of microbial community in cattle dung exhibited an inhibitory effect on hydrogen production.

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