Biohydrogen production from arabinose and glucose using extreme thermophilic anaerobic mixed cultures

BACKGROUND: Second generation hydrogen fermentation technologies using organic agricultural and forestry wastes are emerging. The efficient microbial fermentation of hexoses and pentoses resulting from the pretreatment of lingocellulosic materials is essential for the success of these processes. RESULTS: Conversion of arabinose and glucose to hydrogen, by extreme thermophilic, anaerobic, mixed cultures was studied in continuous (70°C, pH 5.5) and batch (70°C, pH 5.5 and pH 7) assays. Two expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors, Rₐᵣₐb and Rgₗᵤc, were continuously fed with arabinose and glucose, respectively. No significant differences in reactor performance were observed for arabinose and glucose organic loading rates (OLR) ranging from 4.3 to 7.1 kgCOD m⁻³ d⁻¹. However, for an OLR of 14.2 kgCOD m⁻³ d⁻¹, hydrogen production rate and hydrogen yield were higher in Rₐᵣₐb than in Rgₗᵤc (average hydrogen production rate of 3.2 and 2.0 LH₂ L⁻¹ d⁻¹ and hydrogen yield of 1.10 and 0.75 molH₂ mol⁻¹ ₛᵤbₛₜᵣₐₜₑ for Rₐᵣₐb and Rgₗᵤc, respectively). Lower hydrogen production in Rgₗᵤc was associated with higher lactate production. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) results revealed no significant difference on the bacterial community composition between operational periods and between the reactors. Increased hydrogen production was observed in batch experiments when hydrogen partial pressure was kept low, both with arabinose and glucose as substrate. Sugars were completely consumed and hydrogen production stimulated (62% higher) when pH 7 was used instead of pH 5.5. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous hydrogen production rate from arabinose was significantly higher than from glucose, when higher organic loading rate was used. The effect of hydrogen partial pressure on hydrogen production from glucose in batch mode was related to the extent of sugar utilization and not to the efficiency of substrate conversion to hydrogen. Furthermore, at pH 7.0, sugars uptake, hydrogen production and yield were higher than at pH 5.5, with both arabinose and glucose as substrates.