초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>As a renewable energy source bio-hydrogen production from lignocellulosic wastes is a promising approach which can produce clean fuel with no CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions. Utilization of agro-industrial residues in solid state fermentation (SSF) is offering a solution to solid wastes disposal and providing an economical process of value-added products such as hydrogen.</P> <P>In this study three different particle size of rice husk (<2000 μm, <300 μm, <74 μm) was subjected to batch SSF with a <I>Clostridium termitidis</I>: <I>Clostridium intestinale</I> ratio of 5:1. <I>C</I>. <I>termitidis</I> is a cellulolytic microorganism that has the ability to hydrolyze cellulosic substances and <I>C</I>. <I>intestinale</I> is able to grow on glucose having a potential of enhancing hydrogen production when used in the co-culture. 5 g dw rice husk with 75% humidity was used as substrate in SSF under mesophilic conditions. The highest HF Volume (29.26 mL) and the highest yield (5.9 mL H<SUB>2</SUB> g<SUP>−1</SUP> substrate) were obtained with the smallest particle size (<74 μm). The main metabolites obtained from the fermentation media were acetic, butyric, propionic and lactic acids. The second best production yield (3.99 mL H<SUB>2</SUB> g<SUP>−1</SUP> substrate) was obtained with the middle particle size (<300 μm) rice husk with a HF of 19.71 mL.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Hydrogen synthesis of a co-culture during solid state fermentation was evaluated. </LI> <LI> Solid state fermentation of different rice husk particle sizes was realized. </LI> <LI> Hydrogen formation volume and yield increased with decreasing particle sizes. </LI> <LI> Solid state fermentation is a promising and novel for biohydrogen production. </LI> </UL> </P>