Yields from glucose, xylose, and paper sludge hydrolysate during hydrogen production by the extreme thermophile Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus

This study addressed the utilization of an industrial waste stream, paper sludge, as a renewable cheap feedstock for the fermentative production of hydrogen by the extreme thermophile Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus. Hydrogen, acetate, and lactate were produced in medium in which paper sludge hydrolysate was added as the sole carbon and energy source and in control medium with the same concentration of analytical grade glucose and xylose.

The hydrogen yield was dependent on lactate formation and varied between 50 and 94% of the theoretical maximum. The carbon balance in the medium with glucose and xylose was virtually 100%. The carbon balance was not complete in the paper sludge medium because the measurement of biomass was impaired owing to interfering components in the paper sludge hydrolysate.

Nevertheless, >85% of the carbon could be accounted for in the products acetate and lactate. The maximal volumetric hydrogen production rate was 5 to 6 mmol/(L x h), which was lower than the production rate in media with glucose, xylose, or a combination of these sugars (9-11 mmol/[L x h]). The reduced hydrogen production rate suggests the presence of inhibiting components in paper sludge hydrolysate.