Optimization and modelling of dark fermentative
hydrogen production from cheese whey by
Enterobacter aerogenes 2822
Raman Rao, Nitai Basak
*
Department of Biotechnology, Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, 144011, India
highlights
Box Behnken design matrix was used for setting up experimental conditions.
Fermentation experiment in 2 L double walled cylindrical bioreactor.
Response surface analysis was used to depict the results.
Optimum total carbohydrate concentration in cheese whey ¼ 32.5 g L
1
, temp. ¼ 31
C and pH ¼ 6.5.
Experimental and predicted bioH
2
production rate were 24.7 mL L
1
h
1
and 23.2 mL L
1
h
1
respectively.
Mathematical models for H
2
production gave adequate simulation with experimental values.
article info
Article history:
Received 7 August 2020
Received in revised form
13 October 2020
Accepted 17 October 2020
Available online xxx
Keywords:
Dark fermentation
Bioreactor
Cheese whey
Box Behnken design
Biohydrogen production rate
abstract
In India, annually about 3.3e5 million tons of cheese whey is produced which may causes
serious problems for the environment if left untreated. In this study, pretreated cheese
whey was utilized to produce hydrogen via dark fermentation by Enterobacter aerogenes
2822 cells in 2 L double walled cylindrical bioreactor having working volume of 1.5 L. Effect
of change in total carbohydrate concentration in cheese whey (CW
TC
, 20e45 g L
1
), tem-
perature (T, 25e37
C) and pH (5.5e7.5) was investigated on volumetric hydrogen produc-
tion rate (VHPR) using Box Behnken design (BBD). Experimental VHPR of 24.7 mL L
1
h
1
was attained at an optimum concentration of 32.5 g L
1
CW
TC
, 31
C T and 6.5 pH, which
was in good correlation with predicted rate of 23.2 mL L
1
h
1
. Mathematical models based
on Monod and logistic equations were developed to describe the kinetics of substrate
consumption and growth profile of E. aerogenes 2822 under optimum conditions. While for
the modelling of fermentative hydrogen production in batch mode, Modified Gompertz
equation and Leudeking-Piret models were used which gave proper simulated fitting.
These results will add significant values to cheese whey by converting it into a clean form
of bioenergy.
© 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
* Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: basakn@nitj.ac.in, basakn812@yahoo.com
(N. Basak).
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
ScienceDirect
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/he
international journal of hydrogen energy xxx (xxxx) xxx
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.10.142
0360-3199/© 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Please cite this article as: Rao R, Basak N, Optimization and modelling of dark fermentative hydrogen production from cheese whey by
Enterobacter aerogenes 2822, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.10.142