Novel integration of biohydrogen production with fungal biodiesel production process

An integration of bio-H₂ with fungal biodiesel production process was investigated. Highest cumulative H₂ production of 3.3 ± 0.20 L L^-1 was observed during media optimization using mixture design. Using optimized media composition, continuous H₂ production at 0.2 h^-1 dilution rate, showed highest H₂ production rate, H₂ yield and biomass yield of 1020 ± 23 mL L^-1 h^-1, 2.8 ± 0.1 mols mol^-1 reducing sugar and 1.2 ± 0.06 g L^-1, respectively. Using the spent media generated from the dark fermentation, oleaginous yeast cultivation was done. Highest biomass and total lipid yield of 6.4 ± 0.20 g L^-1 and 0.46 ± 0.04 g g^-1 was observed at initial 15% v/v inoculums strength, pH of 5, 1.5 L min^-1 aeration rate and 25 °C temperature of cultivation, respectively. Energy recovery improved by 90.3% in integrated process when compared with single stage hydrogen production.