Skip to main content

Hydrogen production from rotten dates by sequential three stages fermentation.

Research Authors
Abd-Alla M. H., Morsy F.M. and El-Enany E
Research Abstract

This study was devoted for H2 production from rotten fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera
L.) by three fermentation stages. A facultative anaerobe, Escherichia coli EGY was used in
first stage to consume O2 and maintain strict anaerobic conditions for a second stage dark
fermentative H2 production by the strictly anaerobic Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824.
Subsequently, a third stage photofermentation using Rhodobacter capsulatus DSM 1710 has
been conducted for the H2 production. The maximum total H2 yield of the three stages
(7.8 mol H2 mol1 sucrose) was obtained when 5 g L1 of sucrose was supplemented to
fermentor as rotten date fruits. A maximum estimated cumulative H2 yield of the three
stages (162 LH2 kg1 fresh rotten dates) was estimated at the (5 g L1) sucrose concentration.
These results suggest that rotten dates can be efficiently used for commercial H2
production. The described protocol did not require addition of a reducing agent or flashing
with argon which both are expensive.

Research Journal
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Research Member
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Rank
3
Research Vol
36
Research Year
2011
Research Pages
1 3 5 1 8-1 3 5 2 7