Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026

A Simple, Low-cost, and Robust System to Measure the Volume of Hydrogen Evolved by Chemical Reactions with Aqueous Solutions
Published on: August 17, 2016
Effects of anti-foaming agents on biohydrogen production
Periyasamy Sivagurunathan1, Parthiban Anburajan2, Gopalakrishnan Kumar3
1Department of Environmental Engineering, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 712-714, Republic of Korea; Center for Materials Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan.
Abstract:
The effects of antifoaming agents on fermentative hydrogen production using galactose in batch and continuous operations were investigated. Batch hydrogen production assays with LS-303 (dimethylpolysiloxane), LG-109 (polyalkylene), LG-126 (polyoxyethylenealkylene), and LG-299 (polyether) showed that the doses and types of antifoaming agents played a significant role in hydrogen production. During batch tests, LS-303 at 100μL/L resulted in the maximum hydrogen production rate (HPR) and hydrogen yield (HY) of 2.5L/L-d and 1.08mol H2/mol galactoseadded, respectively. The following continuously stirred tank reactor operated at 12h HRT with LS-303 at 100μL/L showed a stable HPR and HY of 4.9L/L-d and 1.17mol H2/mol galactoseadded, respectively, which were higher than those found for the control reactor. Microbial community analysis supported the alterations in H2 generation under different operating conditions and the stimulatory impact of certain antifoaming chemicals on H2 production was demonstrated.
Related Concept Videos
Bioreactor Controls-I
Biofuels
Bioreactor Controls-II
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...

