BIO-HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM WASTE WATER SLUDGE

Abstract

Now a days, increasing energy consumption and global warming associated with increasing use of fossil fuels have enhanced the demand for renewable energy. A significant work and research is underway to develop biofuels as a replacement for non-renewable fossil fuels. Among the multifarious alternatives, hydrogen is an attractive and clean future energy carrier because of its high energy density, low pollutant generation, potentially higher efficiency of conversion to usable power. There are various well known methods for hydrogen gas production such as electrolysis of water, steam reforming of hydrocarbons and auto-thermal processes, but these are not cost-effective due to high energy requirements. Biological production of hydrogen gas has significant advantages over chemical methods. The major biological hydrogen gas production are bio-photolysis of water by algae, photo fermentation and dark fermentation of organic materials, usually carbohydrates by bacteria. High organic loading waste water/sludge can also be a good feed storage for the micro-organism for producing bio-hydrogen gas. These methods are not matured and there are enormous scope for research. Extensive research is also going on around the world on these methods. It give high hydrogen gas production rate. The present paper reviews the progress in the area of biohydrogen production from waste water. Critically analyses different available processes to compare their performances. Simultaneous treatment of waste water with production capability has also been assessed. Experiment were carried out under anaerobic condition in absence of light at different condition of temperature, pH, and substrate load. Maximum hydrogen yield of 3.16 mol of Hz/mol of dextrose was obtained at temperature 450C, pH 7 and substrate load of ig/litre of dextrose solution. Effect of process parameter such as pH, temperature and substrate or organic load on hydrogen production through dark fermentation was investigated.