• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.467-475
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• 2007

This study was conducted to examine temperature effects on hydrogen production in anaerobic fermentation. 18 batch reactors were operated at mesophilic ($35^{\circ}C$) and thermophilic conditions ($55^{\circ}C$) to achieve maximum hydrogen production in anaerobic fermentation. Optimum hydrogen production conditions were also investigated at each temperature. Different trends were observed regarding pH effects on hydrogen production. This effect was not significant for mesophilic fermentation ($35^{\circ}C$). In this case, pH may not drop to interfere hydrogen production during the test. However, hydrogen production decreased without pH control for thermophilic condition ($55^{\circ}C$). Effects of heat treatment were observed for both fermentation process. Hydrogen production with heat treatment was higher than hydrogen production without heat treatment for both fermentation processes. The amount of produced hydrogen for each substrate concentration with temperature changes showed that more hydrogen was produced at $35^{\circ}C$ than at $55^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2008

This paper deals with an economic evaluation of hydrogen production by fermentation. We evaluate the economic feasibility of domestic hydrogen production by fermentation utilizing glucose and waste water sludge in terms of hydrogen production prices. In addition, we make some sensitivity analysis of hydrogen prices by changing the values of input factors such as the price of glucose, the capital cost of the hydrogen production system, and the hydrogen production yields. The estimated hydrogen prices of the two-step dark-light hydrogen production by fermentation utilizing glucose was $5,347won/kgH_2$, and the single-step hydrogen production by anaerobic fermentation utilizing waste water sludge was $4,255won/kgH_2$, respectively. It is expected that the hydrogen production price by anaerobic fermentation can be reduced if we produce methane or hydrogen utilizing by-products such as alcohols and organic acids, or the government imposes some legal regulations on the treatment of waste water sludge.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1159-1163
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• 2005

The production of hydrogen by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii UTEX 90, a marine green alga, was performed under dark fermentation. The effects of initial nitrogen and phosphorus concentration on the cell growth and the production of hydrogen and organic substances were investigated. In the growth stage, the maximum dry cell weight (DCW) was 3 g/l when the initial ammonium concentration was 15 mM. In the dark fermentation, the maximum hydrogen production was $3.5\;{\mu}mol/\;mg$ DCW when the initial nitrogen concentration was 7.5 mM. The nitrogen concentration had a greater effect on organic compound and hydrogen production than the phosphorus concentration during the dark fermentation. An investigation of the duration of dark fermentation showed that, at least until three days, dark fermentation should be prolonged for maximum hydrogen production.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.765-771
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of heat treatment on the start-up performance for anaerobic hydrogen fermentation of food waste. The result showed that hydrogen production was $0.61{\pm}0.31$ mol $H_2$/mol hexose with heat-treatment of food waste at $70^{\circ}C$ for 60 min whereas it was $0.36{\pm}0.31$ mol $H_2$/mol hexose without heat-treatment of one. The heat treatment of food waste enhanced hydrogen yield due probably to the increase of hydrolysis as well as the decrease of non-hydrogen fermentation microorganisms. The removal efficiency of carbohydrate in reactors regardless of heat treatment of food waste maintained over 90%. The hydrogen conversion efficiency from food waste was 1.7-6.3% with heat-treatment whereas it was 0.7-4.5% without heat-treatment. At the time of switchover from batch to continuous operation, lactate concentration was high compared to the n-butyrate concentration in anaerobic hydrogen fermentation reactor without heat-treatment. Anaerobic hydrogen fermentation of food waste with heat treatment was stable in start-up periods because lactate concentration could be maintained at a relatively low compared to n-butyrate concentration due to the decrease of non-hydrogen fermentation microorganisms.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.427-433
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• 2018

This study was performed to evaluate initial pH and substrate concentration on hydrogen fermentation of protein. The optimum initial pH and substrate concentration of hydrogen fermentation using protein was 8.0 and 1.0 g peptone/L, respectively. The maximum hydrogen yield at initial pH 8.0 and 1.0 g peptone/L was $19.2{\pm}0.8mL\;H_2/g$ peptone. As results of VFAs analysis, percentages of valerate was similar to hydrogen yield. Also, C. stickalandii, which was hydrogen and valerate producing bacteria, was dominated.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.397-403
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• 2012

Galactose, an isomer of glucose with an opposite hydroxyl group at the 4-carbon, is a major fermentable sugar in various promising feedstock for hydrogen production including red algal biomass. In this study, hydrogen production characteristics of galactose-glucose mixture were investigated using batch fermentation experiments with heat-treated digester sludge as inoclua. Galactose showed a hydogen yield compatible with glucose. However, more complicated metabolic steps for galactose utilization caused a slower hydrogen production rate. The existence of glucose aggravated the hydrogen production rate, which would result from the regulation of galactose-utilizing enzymes by glucose. Hydrogen produciton rate at galactose to glucose ratio of 8:2 or 6:4 was 67% of the production rate for galactose and 33% for glucose, which could need approximately 1.5 and 3 times longer hydraulic retention time than galacgtose only condition and glucose only condition, respectively, in continuous fermentation. Hydrogen production rate, Hydrogen yield, and organic acid production at galactose to glucose ratio of 8:2 or 6:4 were 0.14 mL H2/mL/hr, 0.78 mol $H_2$/mol sugar, and 11.89 g COD/L, respectively. Galactose-rich biomass could be usable for hydogen fermenation, however, the fermentation time should be allowed enough.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.97-105
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• 2007

This study was conducted to compare the performances of acidogenic fermentation and hydrogen fermentation using bench-scale leaching-bed reactors for organic solid waste. Acidogenic fermenters were operated with dilution rates (D) of 2.0, 3.0 and $4.0d^{-1}$ after employing anaerobic sludge and hydrogen fermenters were operated with D of 2.0, 4.0 and $6.0d^{-1}$ after employing heat-treated anaerobic sludge. The highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) conversion efficiency (56.2%) was obtained in acidogenic fermentation with D of $3.0d^{-1}$. Only volatile fatty acid (VFA) was produced as a metabolite. On the other hand, hydrogen fermentation did not show higher COD conversion efficiency (49.3%) than acidogenic fermentation, but it produced hydrogen gas (5.1% of total COD) which was a clean and environmentally friendly fuel with a high energy yield. Therefore, either acidogenic fermentation or hydrogen fermentation could be applied to organic solid waste depending on the purpose of treatment, which could maximize the economics of anaerobic treatment.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2006

Biological hydrogen production processes are more environment-friendly and less energy intensive than thermochemical and electrochemical processes. The biological process can be divided into two categories: photosynthetic hydrogen production and hydrogen production by dark fermentation. Photosynthetic process produces hydrogen mainly from water and reduces $CO_2$ simultaneously. Dark fermentation is a dark and anaerobic process that produces hydrogen by fermentative bacteria from organic carbon. The article presents a survey of biological hydrogen production processes.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.440-446
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• 2017

This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of carbohydrate, protein and lipid content of substrate on hydrogen yields and microbial communities. The hydrogen yields were linearly correlated to carbohydrate content of substrates while others (content of proteins and lipids) did not make a significant contribution. The chemical composition of substrates produced effects on the final products of anaerobic hydrogen fermentation. Acetate and butyrate were the main fermentation products, with their concentration proving to correlate with carbohydrate and protein content of substrates. The result of microbial community analysis revealed that the relative abundances of Clostridium butyricum increased and Clostridium perfringens decreased as the carbohydrate content increased.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.510-516
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• 2016

This study examines the effects of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate on hydrogen fermentation of food waste. The hydrogen production rate was similar with different linear alkylbenzen sulfonate (LAS) concentrations. The maximum hydrogen yield increased with increasing LAS concentration. The highest maximum hydrogen yield was $0.550{\pm}0.005mol$ H2/mol hexose at LAS for 5.52 mg/L. But the maximum hydrogen yield decreased above LAS for 11.05 mg/L. The concentration of acetate in control reactor was increased, but it decreased with increasing LAS concentration in other reactors.