ABSTRACT
The aim of present study was to
assess the optimum pH and temperature on hydrogen production from dairy
effluent by using three different microbial consortia (Anaerobic sewage sludge
(AS), mangrove (MAN) and hot spring (HS)) and change in various operating
parameters and the H2 yield with time. Dairy effluent containing
1760 mg/l of COD was used as the substrate for the hydrogen production studies.
Heat
treatment followed by acid was found to be effective in our previous studies and
adopted throughout these studies. The initial batch experiments were conducted for pH and
temperature optimization. Five pH values ranging
from 4.5 to 7.0 at an increment of 0.5 were tested at room temperature and temperatures from 30˚C to 60˚C
with 5˚C intervals at optimum pH condition. The optimum pH & temperatures
for AS, MAN and HS were 6.5 & 55°C, 6.0 & 50°C and 6.0 & 60°C respectively.
Time course of hydrogen production and reactor contents were studied in 5 l batch
reactor at these optimum conditions. Maximum hydrogen yields were 264.4 ml/l, 88.1 ml/l and 100.6 ml/l for AS, MAN and HS
respectively.
