Hydrogen production performance by hydrogen producing bacteria Ethanoligenens harbinense R3 using straw as a substrate

Hydrogen producing bacterium Ethanoligenens harbinense R3 was separated from the anaerobic activated sludge in a continuous stirred tank reactor. Hydrogen production performance was studied by batch culture hydrogen producing bacteria Ethanoligenens harbinense R3 using straw as a substrate. Straw was pretreated by different concentrations of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, and the result indicated that fermentative hydrogen production presented well in the first 6h compared to sulfuric acid pretreatment method and the hydrogen yield reached the maximum of 34.5ml when the straw was pretreated by concentration of 1.0% NaOH, and the maximum concentration of ethanol and acetic acid of 2327mg/L and 2945 mg/L was achieved. The liquid end product of the ethanol reached 2265mg/L while using concentration of 0.5% sulfuric acid pretreated method. The ethanol and acetic acid content in liquid end products was all up to 95% when using different pretreated methods.