Biohydrogen Production from Corn Stalks via Coupled Dark and Photofermentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing biohydrogen production by dark fermentation faces challenges such as low conversion efficiency, high organic waste emission, poor hydrogen quality, and high production costs, primarily due to substrate feedback inhibition by volatile organic acids.
Innovation Solution
A biohydrogen production device for corn stalks utilizing synchronous saccharification and fermentation, which includes a vertical fermenter with sequential units for irradiation pretreatment, enzymolysis saccharification, dark fermentation, photofermentation, and hydrogen storage, effectively coupling dark and photofermentation processes to enhance hydrogen production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dark fermentation is used for biohydrogen production, then hydrogen production rate is improved, but substrate feedback inhibition by volatile organic acids causes low quantity and unstable hydrogen production
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the hydrogen production process into two separate fermentation stages: dark fermentation (using anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria) and photofermentation (using anaerobic photosynthetic bacteria). This segmentation allows each stage to specialize in specific substrate degradation and hydrogen production, preventing the accumulation of inhibitory volatile organic acids that plague single-stage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary coupling mechanism where the effluent from dark fermentation (containing volatile organic acids) serves as the substrate for photofermentation. This intermediary approach allows photosynthetic bacteria to consume the inhibitory compounds produced by heterotrophic bacteria, converting them into additional hydrogen and carbon dioxide, thereby eliminating feedback inhibition.
2Ease of manufacture
If dark fermentation is used for biohydrogen production, then technology simplicity is improved, but hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of substrate organic matter is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges dark fermentation and photofermentation into a coupled two-stage system. Dark fermentation efficiently degrades complex organic matter into simpler compounds and produces hydrogen, while photofermentation further degrades volatile organic acids into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This combination achieves thorough decomposition of substrates and maximizes hydrogen energy conversion efficiency while maintaining relative technological simplicity.
3Speed
If dark fermentation is used for biohydrogen production, then processing speed is improved, but organic waste emission is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful volatile organic acids produced during dark fermentation into beneficial hydrogen and carbon dioxide through photofermentation. The photosynthetic bacteria utilize these volatile organic acids as substrates, transforming waste products into valuable hydrogen energy and reducing organic waste emissions. This approach turns the harmful feedback inhibition into a productive resource.
4Ease of manufacture
If dark fermentation is used for biohydrogen production, then technology simplicity is improved, but production cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes operational parameters including temperature control (30-40°C for dark fermentation, 25-35°C for photofermentation), pH adjustment (6.5-7.5 for dark fermentation, 7.0-8.0 for photofermentation), and retention times to maximize hydrogen yield while minimizing operational costs. These parameter optimizations ensure efficient substrate conversion and reduce the need for expensive external additives or post-treatment processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed system significantly improves hydrogen energy conversion efficiency, achieves thorough substrate decomposition, produces high-quality hydrogen, reduces waste emission, lowers production costs, and promotes resource utilization of agricultural waste.
Implementation Method 1
an irradiation pretreatment unit (2), wherein the irradiation pretreatment unit (2) comprises a radiation lighting component
Implementation Method 2
an enzymolysis saccharification unit (10), wherein the enzymolysis saccharification unit (10) comprises a solid-liquid separation component
Implementation Method 3
enzymolysis saccharification
Implementation Method 4
a dark fermentation unit (18), wherein the dark fermentation unit (18) comprises a liquid outlet pipe (22)
Implementation Method 5
a photofermentation unit (26), wherein the photofermentation unit (26) comprises a photoreaction fermentation tank (27)
Data Source
AI summary
A biohydrogen production device of corn stalks based on synchronous saccharification and fermentation and a hydrogen production method thereof are provided. The biohydrogen production device has a vertical fermenter, an irradiation pretreatment unit, an enzymolysis saccharification unit, a dark fermentation unit, a photofermentation unit, a power supply box and a hydrogen storage tank. The method and device utilize the high specificity of different microorganisms to the substrate to combine the dark fermentation and the process of photofermentation hydrogen production. The method and device can be used for the preparation of hydrogen.