Abstract
A Continuous experiment on the hydrogen fermentation of glucose was conducted to investigate the relationship between the hydrogen productivity and the microbial community of the mixed micro-flora. A total of five different kinds of inoculums including digested sludge, heat treated digested sludge, activated sludge, compost and a special consortium were used as the seeds for five chemostat-type reactors. Each reactor was continuously operated at the same condition of 35°C, a hydraulic retention time 12 hrs and a pH5.5 using a medium with glucose of 10000 mg/L for over two months. It was found that the fermentative pattern and the hydrogen productivity depend on the initial inoculums. The analysis results of PCR-DGGE method and DNA sequence indicates that Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium pasteurianum were the important bacteria in hydrogen fermentation for obtaining a high H2 yield.
