ABSTRACT The hydrogen is a fuel with a high energy density. Studies have sought to verify the potential of different residues and configurations of reactors in the production of biohydrogen. This study evaluated the influence of the organic loading rate on the production of biohydrogen from cassava starch wastewater (CSW) in anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactors (AnSBBR) operated in a fed-batch. In the tests, the organic loading rates of 9.0; 13.5 and 18.0 gCT L−1 d−1 were used, at cycle times (CT) of 4; 4 and 2 h (tests I, II and III, respectively). The reactor was inoculated with sludge from a pilot anaerobic reactor used in the treatment of CSW, heat treated (heated at 90°C for 15 min). With the increase of the organic load (condition I to II) with the same cycle time (CT: 4 h), there were increases in the hydrogen molar productivity (PrM) and hydrogen yield in relation to applied total carbohydrate (RMCA) and removed (RMCR). However, with the increase in the organic loading rate in which the CT was reduced from 4 to 2 h (condition II to III), there was a decrease in PrM and RMCA and RMCR. The best performance of the reactor was verified in condition II (organic loading rate: 13.5 gTC L− 1 d−1; CT: 4 h), in which the PrM was 35.8 molH2 m−3 d−1 and RMCA and RMCR were 2.24 and 3.67 molH2 kgTC−1, respectively.

ABSTRACT Fixed-bed reactors have been considered promise alternatives for hydrogen production due to their simple construction and increase in the biomass retention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological production of hydrogen in anaerobic fixed-bed reactors with cassava starch wastewater used as substrate. Different support materials and arrangements of fixed-bed were used to evaluate the biological production of hydrogen in anaerobic continuous fixed-bed reactors, with cassava starch wastewater as substrate - recycled low-density polyethylene scraps, in packed bed (R1), recycled low-density polyethylene cylinders, in ordained bed (R3) and bamboo stems, in vertical arrangement (R2 and R4). In R1 the initial pH was adjusted for 6.0, with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 4 h and organic loading rate (OLR) of 9.5 g.L−1.d−1. In R2 the initial pH was maintained in 4.5, with HRT of 4 h and OLR of 9.5 g.L−1.d−1. R3 and R4 were operated with initial pH of 4.5, HRT of 4 h and OLR of 13.5 g.L−1.d−1. The volumetric hydrogen production (VHPR) was favored by lower OLR applied, evenin different pH ranges (6.0 and 4.5). VHPR values of 229 mL H2.L−1.d−1and 248 mL H2.L−1.d−1 were obtained in R1 and R2, respectively. Both in the bamboo stems bed as in the polyethylene cylinders bed, the increase of OLR and the reduction of the initial pH resulted in a diminishing of VHPR to 175 mL H2.d−1.L−1 (R3) and 145 m LH2 .d−1.L−1 (R4). Higher concentrations of butanol (821.32 and 1,529.22 mg.L−1) and ethanol (915.41 and 924.41 mg.L−1) were verified in the reactors with bamboo stems. In R4, the increase of OLR and the reduction of the initial pH contributed to the increase of butanol concentration in 1.8 times, diminishing the VHPR in 41.68%, yield in 63.95% and H2 in 37.6%, and indicating that the effect of pH is more pronounced with the increase of OLR, leading to the solventogenesis.

Buscando aliar o tratamento de resíduos à produção de energia limpa e renovável, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produção biológica de hidrogênio a partir da água residuária da indústria de fécula de mandioca, gerada durante os processos de extração e de purificação do amido. O experimento foi conduzido em um reator anaeróbio de leito fixo, contínuo, de 3 L de volume útil, em que o meio suporte consistiu em hastes de bambu. O sistema foi operado a 36 º C, pH inicial 6,0 e sob variações de carregamento orgânico. A maior taxa de produção de hidrogênio de 1,1 L d-1 L-1 foi obtida com aplicação da taxa de carregamento orgânico de 35 g L-1d-1, em termos de açúcares totais, e tempo de detenção hidráulica de 3 h, com predomínio dos ácidos butírico e acético como produtos finais da fermentação. As baixas relações C/N contribuíram com o crescimento excessivo da biomassa, ocasionando redução de até 35% na produção de hidrogênio, baixos percentuais de H2 e elevadas concentrações de CO2 no biogás.

Attempting to associate waste treatment to the production of clean and renewable energy, this research sought to evaluate the biological production of hydrogen using wastewater from the cassava starch treatment industry, generated during the processes of extraction and purification of starch. This experiment was carried out in a continuous anaerobic reactor with a working volume of 3L, with bamboo stems as the support medium. The system was operated at a temperature of 36°C, an initial pH of 6.0 and under variations of organic load. The highest rate of hydrogen production, of 1.1 L.d-1.L-1, was obtained with application of an organic loading rate of 35 g.L-1.d-1, in terms of total sugar content and hydraulic retention time of 3h, with a prevalence of butyric and acetic acids as final products of the fermentation process. Low C/N ratios contributed to the excessive growth of the biomass, causing a reduction of up to 35% in hydrogen production, low percentages of H2 and high concentrations of CO2in the biogas.