Cogeneration of hydrogen and methane from Arthrospira maxima biomass with bacteria domestication and enzymatic hydrolysis

The energy conversion efficiency in hydrogen and methane cogeneration from Arthrospira maxima biomass by two-phase fermentation is improved with bacteria domestication and enzymatic hydrolysis. The A. maxima biomass (dried weight) can theoretically cogenerate hydrogen and methane yields of 318 ml/g and 262 ml/g, which dramatically increases the theoretical energy conversion efficiency from 16.6% in hydrogen only production to 61.9%. The experimental hydrogen yield is increased from 49.7 ml/g to 64.3 ml/g, when the hydrogenogens community is domesticated with A. maxima biomass as carbon source. The hydrogen yield is further increased to 78.7 ml/g when A. maxima biomass is hydrolyzed with glucoamylase, which gives an energy conversion efficiency of 4.1% in hydrogen only production. The soluble metabolite byproducts from the first hydrogen-producing phase are reutilized by methanogens to produce methane of 109.5–145.5 ml/g in the second phase. The cogeneration of hydrogen and methane from A. maxima biomass markedly increases the experimental energy conversion efficiency to 27.7%.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► A. maxima biomass is enzymatically hydrolyzed to produce H2 by fermentation. ► Hydrogenogens are domesticated with A. maxima biomass to increase H2 yield. ► Cogenerate H2 and CH4 from A. maxima biomass to improve energy conversion.