Control of hydrogen fermentation from the artificial garbage slurry using the bioelectrochemical system

Abstract

Suitable substrates for dark fermentative hydrogen production include food industry waste and carbohydrate-rich crops. The aim of this report is to show the effectiveness of the membraneless bioelectrochemical system using three electrodes on construction of hydrogen fermentation from the artificial garbage slurry. The potential on the working electrode was regulated to -1.0 V or -0.9 V (versus Ag/AgCl) to avoid water electrolysis with a carbon electrode in the pHout range 5.5-6.4. Hydrogen production reached 2445±815 mL/L/day, and productions of methane and lactate were negligible. In this system, setting the potential on the working electrode through the operation was the operation necessary for stable hydrogen production under relatively acidic pH condition. Methane production from the fermentation end products was possible.