Co-generation of biohydrogen and biomethane through two-stage batch co-fermentation of macro- and micro-algal biomass

Lingkan Ding, Jun Cheng, Ao Xia, Amita Jacob, Markus Voelklein, Jerry D. Murphy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

91 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aquatic micro-algae can be used as feedstocks for gaseous biofuel production via biological fermentation. However, micro-algae usually have low C/N ratios, which are not advantageous for fermentation. In this study, carbon-rich macro-algae (Laminaria digitata) mixed with nitrogen-rich micro-algae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Nannochloropsis oceanica) were used to maintain a suitable C/N ratio of 20 for a two-stage process combining hydrogen and methane fermentation. Co-fermentation of L. digitata and micro-algae facilitated hydrolysis and acidogenesis, resulting in hydrogen yields of 94.5-97.0 mL/gVS; these values were 15.5-18.5% higher than mono-fermentation using L. digitata. Through the second stage of methane co-fermentation, a large portion of energy remaining in the hydrogenogenic effluents was recovered in the form of biomethane. The two-stage batch co-fermentation markedly increased the energy conversion efficiencies (ECEs) from 4.6-6.6% during the hydrogen fermentation to 57.0-70.9% in the combined hydrogen and methane production.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)224-231
Number of pages8
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume218
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords

  • Co-fermentation
  • Hydrogen
  • Macro-algae
  • Methane
  • Micro-algae

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