Changes in dominant fermentation type during anaerobic digestion of high-loading glycerol with slight glucose content

High-loading glycerol containing slight amounts of five different monosaccharides was inoculated with seed sludge obtained from a methane fermentation reactor. The use of different monosaccharides as fermentation promoters resulted in changes in fermentation types; in particular, glucose induced the formation of 1,3-propanediol. After 9 days incubation with glucose, glycerol levels had fallen by 81%, while molar yields of organic acids and 1,3-propanediol (per mole of glycerol degraded) were 0.22 and 0.39, respectively. Other monosaccharides enhanced methane production after 14 days of incubation in the following order: galactose, galacturonic acid, mannose and arabinose. Hydrogen was generated (together with a negligible amount of methane) only in the presence of glucose. When glucose was introduced to a methane-producing reactor (promoted by galacturonic acid), hydrogen production began 5 days later and displaced the methane production after 12 days. These results suggest that glucose catalyzes glycerol degradation, resulting in the production of hydrogen.

► Glycerol with trace glucose altered bacterial populations to generate hydrogen. ► Hydrogen, 1,3-propanediol and various organic acids were produced via this method. ► Several monosaccharides enhanced methane production during anaerobic digestion. ► Adding glucose to a stable methane fermenter induces a shift to hydrogen production. ► Hydrogen was generated in every fed-batch process via this method.