Hydrogen production from melon and watermelon mixture by dark fermentation

Abstract

Hydrogen gas production from melon and watermelon mixture by dark fermentation was studied with and without inoculum addition. In this context, hydrogen production performance of natural and external inoculation was compared in batch experiments by varying fruit mixture concentration between 0.74 and 37 g TS/L. Hydrogen production increased by increasing the substrate concentration due to higher initial total sugar content at elevated TS (total solids) concentrations. Hydrogen productivity at 37 g TS/L for natural microflora was 80.62 mLH2/Lreactor.h. However, this value significantly increased to 351.12 mLH2/Lreactor.h at same solid concentration when the fruit mixture was externally inoculated with heat treated anaerobic sludge. Most favorable nutrient and inoculum composition for hydrogen gas production were at 37 g TS/L. Moreover, the presence of the natural microflora in the fruit mixture led to less inoculum requirement and contribution for hydrogen formation. © 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC