초록
The present study has attempted to get insight into ultrasound induced enhancement in biohydrogen production from glycerol fermentation using metabolic flux analysis (MFA). A pseudo steady state metabolic flux network model was constructed and analyzed using experimentally measured glycerol uptake rate and fluxes of four metabolites, viz. acetate, butyrate, succinate and 1,3-PDO. Glycerol consumption increased by ~50% under sonication. Biohydrogen yield showed marked rise of ~40% with application of ultrasound. Butyrate and 1,3-PDO were the major products of glycerol metabolism. Sonication had major influence on carbon fluxes at the acetyl-CoA node. MFA results revealed enhanced flux towards butyrate under sonication, which was manifested in higher butyrate to acetate (B/A) ratio in products and greater H<SUB>2</SUB> generation. Biohydrogen production was also a microbial growth associated process. Finally, two theoretical alternatives for further enhancement of biohydrogen production were assessed with MFA, viz. enhancement of glycerol uptake and blocking of butyrate pathway.