Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

Vol 22, Issue 2, 2020; Page No.(309-315)

ENHANCEMENT OF PH AND SUBSTRATES FOR EFFICIENT PRODUCTION OF BIO-HYDROGEN AND KINETIC STUDIES

C. ANANTHARAJ, V. ARUTCHELVAN AND N. ASHOK KUMAR

Abstract

The experiment’s aim was to optimize substrate concentration (4, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 40 g / L) and pH effect on bioconversion of distillery spent wash into hydrogen by anaerobic mixed sludge. The batch reactor used for this test was about 1 liter filled with 500 mL of diluted Distillery Spent Wash, 100 mL of preheated anaerobic sludge, and the reactor top serves as a biogas collector. The peak rate of hydrogen production was (1720.5 mL/L.d) at 24 g/L and the specific maximum bacterial growth rate of (0.6615 g VSS/ d) was achieved at 16 g / L with pH of 5.5 and 35 oC temperature. The experimental results have been found to be better suited in Haldane’s equation with the correlation coefficient of (R2=0.92). The experimental results showed that the batch reactor had higher microbial activity and operational stability, suggesting a high substrate utilization rate of 80 percent at 24g / L with initial pH 5.5 and attained a maximum specific growth rate at 16g / L at pH 5. The results showed that the substrate concentration optimized for the development of biological hydrogen and the Maximum specific growth rate of bacteria found between 16- 24g / L and pH 5.0-6.0. For the microbial biomass culture, the Anaerobic Sludge Granules SEM analysis was examined in the batch reactor, showing spherical shape may be the presence of Clostridium Sp and biogas derived from sludge vents.