초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>This work explores the production of biohydrogen from brewery wastewater using as inoculum a culture produced by natural fermentation of synthetic wastewater and <I>Klebsiella pneumoniae</I> isolated from the environment. <I>Klebsiella pneumoniae</I> showed good performance as inoculum, as evaluated using assays of between 9 and 16 cycles, with durations of 12 and 24 h, carbohydrate concentrations from 2.79 to 7.22 g L<SUP>−1</SUP>, and applied volumetric organic loads from 2.6 to 12.6 g carbohydrate L<SUP>−1</SUP> day<SUP>−1</SUP>. The best results were achieved with applied volumetric organic loads of 12.6 g carbohydrate L<SUP>−1</SUP> day<SUP>−1</SUP> and cycle length of 12 h, resulting in mean volumetric productivity of 0.88 L H<SUB>2</SUB> L<SUP>−1</SUP> day<SUP>−1</SUP>, maximum molar flow of 10.80 mmol H<SUB>2</SUB> h<SUP>−1</SUP>, and mean yield of 0.70 mol H<SUB>2</SUB> mol<SUP>−1</SUP> glucose consumed. The biogas H<SUB>2</SUB> content was between 18 and 42%, while the mean organic compounds removal and carbohydrate conversion efficiencies were 23 and 81%, respectively. The inoculum produced by natural fermentation was not viable.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Brewery wastewater has propitious characteristics for the production of bioH<SUB>2</SUB>. </LI> <LI> The production of bioH<SUB>2</SUB> from brewery wastewater has industrial potential. </LI> <LI> <I>K. pneumoniae</I> is effective to produce bioH<SUB>2</SUB> from brewery wastewater. </LI> <LI> Expanded clay is an adequate support to promote a biofilm of <I>K. pneumoniae</I>. </LI> </UL> </P>