초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The biological production of H<SUB>2</SUB> represents a renewable and eco-friendly energy alternative compared to fossil fuels. However, its production from lignocellulose involves the use of expensive enzymatic complexes. In the present work, the production of H<SUB>2</SUB> from pretreated agave biomass was evaluated by means of a Consolidated Bioprocess (CBP). This strategy was carried through the interaction of cellulose-degrading microorganisms obtained from bovine ruminal fluid (BRF) capable of enhancing H<SUB>2</SUB> production by <I>Clostridium acetobutylicum</I>. The results obtained show the capacity of BRF to hydrolyze the acid pretreated agave, improving the production of H<SUB>2</SUB> in the experiments where the inoculum of <I>Clostridium</I> was greater. According to the results, production of H<SUB>2</SUB> is significantly affected by the increase of the solids loading, obtaining a maximum H<SUB>2</SUB> production at a 10% of solids loading, pH 5.5 and 35 °C, representing a yield of 150 L of H<SUB>2</SUB> per Kg of biomass in 264 h.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> BRF was used to hydrolyze pretreated agave and replace the enzymatic complexes. </LI> <LI> The acid pretreatment increased significantly the enzymatic digestibility (94.3%). </LI> <LI> DRX and SEM showed important structural changes in agave pretreated with acid. </LI> <LI> BRF was able to release concentrations greater than 40 g/L of glucose. </LI> <LI> The interaction of BRF and <I>C. acetobutylicum</I> favored H<SUB>2</SUB> production. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>