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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
Published on: March 10, 2023
Trehalose enhancing microbial electrolysis cell for hydrogen generation in low temperature (0 °C)
Linji Xu1, Wenzong Liu2, Yining Wu3
1State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Energy and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology (SKLUWRE, HIT), Harbin 150090, PR China; The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong; Peng Wei Petrochemical Co., LTD, Longqiao Industrial Park, Fuling District, Chongqing 408121, PR China.
This study combined physical and biological sludge pretreatment to enhance organic decomposition. Adding trehalose significantly boosted microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) hydrogen production at 0 °C, achieving a high recovery rate.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Sludge treatment presents challenges in organic decomposition and resource recovery.
- Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) offer a promising avenue for biohydrogen production.
- Low-temperature operation of MECs requires optimization for efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a combined physical-biological sludge pretreatment method.
- To evaluate the impact of trehalose on MEC hydrogen generation at 0 °C.
- To determine the optimal trehalose concentration for enhanced MEC performance.
Main Methods:
- Combined sonication, base treatment, and partial fermentation for sludge pretreatment.
- Utilized microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) for hydrogen production at 0 °C.
- Assessed trehalose concentration effects on hydrogen recovery, Coulomb efficiency, and energy recovery.
Main Results:
- The combined pretreatment effectively decomposed organics into lower molecular weight substances.
- Trehalose significantly promoted hydrogen generation, with an optimal concentration of 50 mmol/L.
- At 50 mmol/L trehalose, the highest hydrogen recovery rate reached 0.25 m³-H₂/m³-reactor/day, with 46.4% Coulomb efficiency and 203% energy recovery efficiency.
- Substrate consumption followed the order: volatile fatty acids (VFAs) > proteins > carbohydrates.
- Microbial analysis identified Microbacterium and Proteobacteria as dominant anode bacteria species.
Conclusions:
- The combined sludge pretreatment method is feasible and enhances organic matter breakdown.
- Trehalose is a key additive for improving MEC hydrogen production efficiency at low temperatures.
- Proteobacteria may play a significant role in electron production within the MEC anode community.
