Electrochemically active microorganisms and electrolytically assisted fermentative hydrogen production - A review

Abstract:

Abstract: Fermentative hydrogen production can be improved by electrolysis and electrochemically active microorganisms which are capable of using an electrode as an electron acceptor for the oxidation of organic matter, in particular, volatile acids produced after fermentation. Firstly volatile acids can be completely converted into CO2, electrons and protons on the surface of anode. Then the electrons flow to cathode through anode and wires, and at the same time the protons move to cathode through cation membrane between anode chamber and cathode chamber. Finally the electrons and the protons combine into hydrogen when they meet at the surface of cathode. In such a process, the fermentation barrier and the product inhibition can be avoided to improve the conversion of hydrogen. 8-9mol H2/mol glucose of hydrogen potential can be obtained when glucose is used as substrate. This technology is very likely to be applied to produce hydrogen high efficiently from any energy crops, organic waste and wastewater.

Key words:Keywords: fermentative hydrogen production; electrolysis; electrochemically active microorganism; electrode respiration