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Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Evaluation of Integrated Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization for Bioenergy Production
Published on: June 15, 2014
Biohydrogen production through active saccharification and photo-fermentation from alfalfa
Chaoyang Lu1, Yanyan Jing2, Huan Zhang2
1Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy, MOA of China, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Huanghe S & T University, Zhengzhou 450006, China.
Abstract:
Studying biohydrogen production from alfalfa is of practical significance to cleaner production and biomass utilization. The performances of biohydrogen production through active/passive saccharification and photo-fermentation were compared. The effects of initial pH, substrate concentration, and cellulase loading on biohydrogen production from alfalfa by photosynthetic bacteria HAU-M1 were presented. It was found that the maximum hydrogen yield of 55.81 mL/g was achieved at initial pH of 6.90, substrate concentration of 31.23 g/mL, and cellulase loading of 0.13 g/g. Hydrogen yield of active saccharification and photo-fermentation was much higher as compare to passive saccharification and photo-fermentation. Initial pH value showed a more significant influence on photosynthetic bacteria in comparison to cellulase in active saccharification and photo-fermentation biohydrogen production. The low yield of propionic acid suggested that it was an efficient photosynthetic hydrogen production. Photo-fermentation hydrogen production from alfalfa provides a novel path for efficient utilization of alfalfa.
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