Effect of shear velocity on dark fermentation for biohydrogen production using dynamic membrane

This study examined the effect of shear velocity on biohydrogen producing dynamic membrane bioreactor (DMBR) containing 50 µm polyester mesh as supporting material. Increase of shear velocity up to 6.75 m/h enhanced hydrogen production performance as well as biomass retention in both suspended and attached forms, while wash-out was found at a shear velocity of 11.69 m/h. The highest average HPR, HY, suspended biomass, and attached biomass were 26.56 ± 1.49 L/L-d, 1.78 ± 0.10 mol H₂/mol glucose_added, 9.99 ± 0.11 g VSS/L, and 8.82 g VSS/L, respectively, at a shear velocity of 6.75 m/h. Flux balance analysis showed homoacetogenic pathway decreased at the shear velocity of 4.70 m/h with the increase of hydrogen yield based on consumed substrate. The highest copy numbers of Clostridium butyricum was found at the optimum shear velocity. Shear velocity would be a critical operational criteria for continuous biohydrogen production using DMBR.