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Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
Published on: March 10, 2023
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Hydrogen production in single chamber microbial electrolysis cells with different complex substrates.
Nuria Montpart1, Laura Rago, Juan A Baeza
1GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
Water Research
|December 3, 2014
Summary
This study shows that microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) can produce hydrogen from complex wastewater like milk. Simultaneous degradation of glycerol, milk, and starch yielded the best results for hydrogen production and COD removal.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) offer a promising technology for sustainable hydrogen production.
- Treating complex organic wastewater with MECs is challenging due to microbial community dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate hydrogen production from complex carbon sources (glycerol, milk, starch) using a single-chamber MEC.
- To investigate the impact of substrate complexity on microbial consortium development and performance.
Main Methods:
- Operation of a single-chamber MEC with synthetic wastewater containing glycerol, milk, and starch.
- Monitoring of current intensity, coulombic efficiency, hydrogen production, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal.
- Analysis of microbial community shifts and hydrogen scavenger proliferation.
Main Results:
- Enhanced growth of syntrophic consortia improved the treatment of complex substrates.
- Simultaneous degradation of glycerol, milk, and starch favored power production and COD removal.
- Optimal performance achieved with simultaneous degradation: 150 A m⁻³ current intensity, 0.94 m³ m⁻³ d⁻¹ hydrogen production, and 91% gas recovery at 0.8 V.
- Glycerol and starch alone led to hydrogen scavenger proliferation, hindering hydrogen production.
Conclusions:
- MECs can effectively treat complex wastewater for hydrogen production, particularly when milk is present.
- Simultaneous degradation of multiple complex substrates enhances MEC efficiency.
- Further research is needed to overcome limitations posed by specific substrates like glycerol and starch in hydrogen production via MECs.
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