초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Suitable pretreatment can effectively enhance the fermentative hydrogen production from algae biomass. In this study, combined microwave-acid pretreatment was applied to disintegrate the biomass of macroalgae <I>L. japonica</I>, and dark fermentation in batch mode was conducted for hydrogen production. The results showed that combining microwave pretreatment at 140 °C and 2450 MHz with 1% H<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB> for 15 min could effectively disrupt macroalgal cells and release the organic matters, and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) concentration increased by 1.92-fold and achieved 5.12 g/L. During the fermentation process, both polysaccharides and proteins were consumed. Hydrogen production process was dominated by acetate-type fermentation, and the dominance of genus <I>Clostridium</I> contributed to more efficient hydrogen production. After the pretreatment, hydrogen yield increased from 15 mL/g TS<SUB>added</SUB> to 28 mL/g TS<SUB>added</SUB>, and energy conversion efficiency increased from 9.5% to 23.8%. Combined microwave-acid pretreatment is potential in enhancing hydrogen production from the biomass of <I>L. japonica</I>.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Hydrogen could be produced from pretreated macroalga <I>L. japonica</I>. </LI> <LI> Microwave-acid treatment could disrupt macroalgal cells and release organic matters. </LI> <LI> Hydrogen yield achieved 28 mL/g TS, which was 1.9-fold of control test. </LI> <LI> Hydrogen was produced from both polysaccharides and proteins. </LI> <LI> More efficient hydrogen production was due to the dominance of <I>Clostridium</I>. </LI> </UL> </P>