Anaerobic fluidized bed reactor with expanded clay as support for hydrogen production through dark fermentation of glucose

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2009, Vol.34 (2), p.783-790
• Main Authors: Cavalcante de Amorim, Eduardo Lucena, Barros, Aruana Rocha, Rissato Zamariolli Damianovic, Márcia Helena, Silva, Edson Luiz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Anaerobic fluidized bed reactor; Applied sciences; Biofilm; biogas; Biomass; Bioreactors; Butyric acid; Carbon dioxide; Clays; Dark fermentation; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Expanded clay; Fermentation; Fuels; Glucose; Hydraulics; Hydrogen; Hydrogen production; Immobilization; Metabolites; Waste water
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2008.11.007

This study evaluated hydrogen production in an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR) fed with glucose-based synthetic wastewater. Particles of expanded clay (2.8–3.35 mm) were used as a support material for biomass immobilization. The reactor was operated with hydraulic retention times (HRT) ranging from 8 to 1 h. The hydrogen yield production increased from 1.41 to 2.49 mol H 2 mol −1 glucose as HRT decreased from 8 to 2 h. However, when HRT was 1 h, there was a slight decrease to 2.41 mol H 2 mol −1 glucose. The biogas produced was composed of H 2 and CO 2, and the H 2 content increased from 8% to 35% as HRT decreased. The major soluble metabolites during H 2 fermentation were acetic acid (HAc) and butyric acid (HBu), accounting for 36.1–53.3% and 37.7–44.9% of total soluble metabolites, respectively. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of using expanded clay as support material for hydrogen production in AFBRs.