Mesophilic and thermophilic photo-hydrogen production from micro-grinded, enzyme-hydrolyzed maize straws

Photo-fermentative is an endothermic reaction driven by light energy to overcome the energy barrier. This communication conducted photo-fermentation hydrogen tests with micro-grinded, enzyme-hydrolyzed maize straws considering the effects of broth temperature ranging 28.2-54.5 °C. The hydrogen production rate was first increased with broth temperature, peaked at 39.6 °C, and then decreased at higher temperature range. The photo-fermentative process can be approximated as a catalytic reaction with positive activation energy and positive activation entropy, an endothermic, entropy-driven complexation process.