Dark fermentative hydrogen production by mixed anaerobic cultures: Effect of inoculum treatment methods on hydrogen yield

Enhancing hydrogen (H2) production by inhibiting or controlling the growth of H2 consuming microorganisms can be accomplished by thermal and chemical methods as well as engineering control strategies. In this study, H2 production from a mixed anaerobic community was evaluated after applying heat shock, acid treatment, alkaline treatment or adding linoleic acid (LA). The H2 yield trend based on the Tukey's test was as follows: LA ≅ acid ≅ heat shock ≅ alkali > control. In comparison to the control cultures (without any treatment), methanogenic activity was not detected in cultures, which were heat-shocked and chemically treated with acid or LA. However, methanogenic activity was observed in cultures treated with alkali. Lactic acid was observed in controls (720 mg L−1) and cultures treated with alkali (600 mg L−1). Even though acetic acid production was dominant in cultures treated with alkali, the H2 yield was not the greatest in this culture. Based on the PCA, the microbial populations in the LA and heat treated cultures were more similar when compared to the other treatment methods. Note in the case of LA, the maximum H2 yield was likely a result of a greater inhibitory effect imposed on the different H2 consuming populations.

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► Treated anaerobic mixed cultures to improve H2 yield.
► Treatment methods included acid, alkali, heat and linoleic (LA).
► LA treatment increased H2 yield in comparison to other methods.
► Controls and alkali cultures were related based on a principal component analysis.