Title: Biohydrogen production from normal starch wastewater with heat-treated mixed microorganisms from a starch factory

Authors: Nusara Sinbuathong; Budsakorn Kanchanakhan; Suchat Leungprasert

Addresses: Scientific Equipment and Research Division, Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI), Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand ' Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand ' Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Abstract: Biohydrogen production was studied from normal starch factory wastewater of approximately 20,000 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/l with heat-treated mixed microorganisms originating from the plant. Acclimated heat-treated microorganisms that produced H₂ 50% during the acclimation period were used as the parent culture. Experiments were performed in a batch and semi-continuous operation through dark fermentation. The results found that normal starch wastewater can be the sole carbon source for biohydrogen. For batch operation, the maximum hydrogen yield and specific hydrogen production rate of 250 ml at standard temperature and pressure (STP)/g COD degraded and 13.9 ml at STP/g cells-hour were obtained when operating the system at initial wastewater pH 4. For semi-continuous operation, the maximum hydrogen yield of 100 ml at STP/g COD degraded was obtained when operating the system at an organic loading rate of 28.6 kg COD/m³-day or a hydraulic retention time of 18 hours. The fermentation medium pH should not be much higher than pH 5 during digestion.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; biogas; biohydrogen production; global warming; mixed microorganisms; starch wastewater; heat treatment; starch factories; chemical oxygen demand; COD; carbon source; hydrogen production.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2015.069363

International Journal of Global Warming, 2015 Vol.7 No.3, pp.293 - 306

Received: 12 Feb 2013
Accepted: 14 Jun 2013
Published online: 14 May 2015 *

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