Performance and composition of bacterial communities in anaerobic fluidized bed reactors for hydrogen production: Effects of organic loading rate and alkalinity

This study evaluated the effects of the organic loading rate (OLR) and pH buffer addition on hydrogen production in two anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBRs) operated simultaneously. The AFBRs were fed with glucose, and expanded clay was used as support material. The reactors were operated at a temperature of 30 °C, without the addition of a buffer (AFBR1) and with the addition of a pH buffer (AFBR2, sodium bicarbonate) for OLRs ranging from 19.0 to 140.6 kg COD m−3 d−1 (COD: chemical oxygen demand). The maximum hydrogen yields for AFBR1 and AFBR2 were 2.45 and 1.90 mol H2 mol−1 glucose (OLR of 84.3 kg COD m−3 d−1), respectively. The highest hydrogen production rates were 0.95 and 0.76 L h−1 L−1 for AFBR1 and AFBR2 (OLR of 140.6 kg COD m−3 d−1), respectively. The operating conditions in AFBR1 favored the presence of such bacteria as Clostridium, while the bacteria in AFBR2 included Clostridium, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Veillonellaceae, Chryseobacterium, Sporolactobacillus, and Burkholderiaceae.

► The effects of the OLR and pH buffer addition on H2 production in AFBRs were evaluated.
► The reactors were operated for OLRs ranging from 19.0 to 140.6 kg COD m−3 d−1.
► The maximum H2 yield was achieved with AFBR1 (without pH buffer, 2.41 mol H2 mol−1 glucose).
► The operating conditions in AFBR1 favored the presence of such bacteria as Clostridium.
► A wider diversity of bacteria, was found in reactor AFBR2 (with pH buffer).