Hydrogen production in continuous tubular reactors

Two anaerobic reactors (R1 and R2) were used to validate the H2 production in relation to two inoculums from continuous tubular reactors. The experiment was carried out in batch mode shaking in at 100 rpm and 55 grade centigrade. Sugarcane vinasse was used as substrate with a chemical oxygen demand of 9105 g/L and the food-to-microorganism ratio was 3,7. The reactors were monitored in liquid and gas phases for 282 h, and at the end of the experiment was carried out the molecular identification. The results showed that both reactors produced H2 with maximum yields equal to 2,80 mmolH2/mmol total carbohydrates (R1) and 3,14 mmolH2/mmol total carbohydrates (R2) after reaching the stationary phase. Molecular biology analysis showed a dominance of bacterium kingdom in both reactors. The genera Clostridium and Bacillus genera were the predominant in R1. However, the Lactobacillus genus was the predominant in R2.