Submitter and Co-author information

Guochen ZhangFollow

Standing

Graduate (Masters)

Type of Proposal

Visual Presentation (Poster, Installation, Demonstration)

Faculty

Faculty of Engineering

Proposal

The demand for renewable and clean energy supplies is increasing because of depleting fossil fuels and global warming. Hydrogen (H2) is the only carbon-free energy source which is regarded as the cleanest fuel since water is the only product during combustion. Bio-hydrogen (bio-H2) production is promising because many organic wastes can be utilized as feedstocks. Bacteria fermentation, a similar process taking place during food digestion in our gut system, can be utilized to produce bio-H2.

Glycerol, a waste byproduct from the manufacture of biodiesel, is a low-value chemical that can be converted intoH2. Biodiesel is a transportation fuel produced which is from algae. Converting glycerol intoH2 could be an economic advantage for many biodiesel industries. Adding fatty acids which are produced from oils such a safflower and sunflower oils can improve H2 production from glycerol during bacterial fermentation. Although bio-H2 production from glycerol through dark fermentation by using selected bacterium has been reported, the performance of H2 yield needs to be analyzed when mixed bacteria and H2-improving treatment are conducted. The main objective of this work was to establish a maximumH2 yield during the glycerol fermentation in the mixed cultures with the presence of fatty acids.

Grand Challenges

Sustainable Industry

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Clean energy: Hydrogen production from glycerol via dark fermentation

The demand for renewable and clean energy supplies is increasing because of depleting fossil fuels and global warming. Hydrogen (H2) is the only carbon-free energy source which is regarded as the cleanest fuel since water is the only product during combustion. Bio-hydrogen (bio-H2) production is promising because many organic wastes can be utilized as feedstocks. Bacteria fermentation, a similar process taking place during food digestion in our gut system, can be utilized to produce bio-H2.

Glycerol, a waste byproduct from the manufacture of biodiesel, is a low-value chemical that can be converted intoH2. Biodiesel is a transportation fuel produced which is from algae. Converting glycerol intoH2 could be an economic advantage for many biodiesel industries. Adding fatty acids which are produced from oils such a safflower and sunflower oils can improve H2 production from glycerol during bacterial fermentation. Although bio-H2 production from glycerol through dark fermentation by using selected bacterium has been reported, the performance of H2 yield needs to be analyzed when mixed bacteria and H2-improving treatment are conducted. The main objective of this work was to establish a maximumH2 yield during the glycerol fermentation in the mixed cultures with the presence of fatty acids.