Optimization of organosolv pretreatment of rice straw for enhanced biohydrogen production using Enterobacter aerogenes

Ethanol organosolv pretreated rice straw was used to produce biohydrogen using Enterobacter aerogenes. The effect of temperature (120-180 °C), residence time (30-90 min), and ethanol concentration (45-75% v/v) on the hydrogen yield, residual biomass, and lignin recovery was investigated using RSM. In contrast to the residual solid and lignin recovery, no considerable trend could be observed for the changes in the hydrogen yield at different treatment severities. The maximum hydrogen yield of 19.73 ml g−1 straw was obtained at the ethanol concentration of 45% v/v and 180 °C for 30 min. Furthermore, the potential amount of biohydrogen was estimated in the top ten rice producing nations using the experimental results. Approximately 355.8 kt of hydrogen and 11.3 Mt of lignin could globally be produced. Based on a Monte Carlo analysis, the production of biohydrogen from rice straw has the lowest risk in China and the highest in Japan.