초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Biohydrogen production in a continuously operated up flow packed bed reactor was investigated at different hydraulic retention time (HRT) varying between 2 h and 13 h scouring sponge pad. The substrate was sugar solution obtained from hydrolysis of waste wheat at pH = 2 and 90 °C in an autoclave for 15 min. Experimental results indicated that hydrogen production volume and yield increases with decreasing HRT. The highest volumetric hydrogen production rate and yield were obtained as VHPR = 1.75 L H<SUB>2</SUB>/L d and Y<SUB>H2</SUB> = 1.6 moL H<SUB>2</SUB>/mol TS, respectively, at HRT = 2 h. Yields and rates at HRT = 2 h were almost two times of that obtained at HRT = 13 h. It can be concluded that metal mesh covered plastic scouring sponge pad is a suitable microorganism support particle to obtain high hydrogen yield and rate at short HRTs by dark fermentation.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Hydrogen production volume and yield increased with decreasing HRT. </LI> <LI> Yields and rates at HRT = 2 h were almost two times of that at HRT = 13 h. </LI> <LI> The maximum daily hydrogen production volume reached up to 3500 ml at HRT = 2 h. </LI> <LI> Volumetric production rate raised to 1.7 L H<SUB>2</SUB>/L d and yield was maximum (1.6 moL H<SUB>2</SUB>/mol TS) at HRT = 2 h. </LI> <LI> Hydrogen purity in total gas reached up to 67% with decreasing HRT. </LI> </UL> </P>