EFFECT OF NUTRIENTS ON HYPER-THERMOPHILIC HYDROGEN FERMENTATION FROM TOILET PAPER

Abstract

 Effect of nutrients on hydrogen fermentation of toilet paper under hyper-thermophilic condition was investigated by a lab-scale experiment. The study was conducted with a long-term continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) using toilet paper (cellulosic waste) with glucose as co-substrate by anaerobic mixed microflora at 65 ± 1°C. In order to understand the effect of nutrients on metabolic pathway, a series of biogas production, composition and metabolic byproducts analysis was carried out. A maximal hydrogen yield of 1.82 mol H₂/ mol Hexose was obtained at a nutrients condition that support 30% of cells synthesis, with acetate, butyrate and ethanol as main soluble byproducts. The experimental results suggest that amount of nutrients has a greater effect on increasing cellulosic hydrolysis, acidogenesis and the hydrogen yield from cellulosic biomass.