Determining optimum conditions for hydrogen production from glucose by an anaerobic culture using response surface methodology (RSM)

Hydrogen fermentation is a very complex process and is greatly influenced by many factors. Previous studies have demonstrated that temperature, pH and substrate are important factors controlling biological H2 production. Response surface methodology with central composite design was used in this study to optimize H2 production from glucose by an anaerobic culture. The individual and interactive effects of pH, temperature and glucose concentration on H2 production were also evaluated. The optimum conditions for maximum H2 yield of 1.75 mol-H2 mol-glucose−1 were found as temperature 38.8 °C, pH 5.7 and glucose concentration 9.7 g L−1. The linear effects of temperature and pH as well as their quadratic effects on H2 yield were significant, while the interactive effects of three parameters were minor.