GENERATION OF HYDROGEN GAS USING WASTE
ORGANIC MATERIALS
BY FERMENTATION
PROJECT REFERENCE NO.: 39S_BE_1728
COLLEGE
BRANCH
GUIDE
STUDENTS
: DAYANAND COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, BENGALURU
: DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
: PROF. PRIYA S
: MS. SUSHMITA KUSHARY
MR. VISHVA MEHTA
MS.ROSHNEE DAS
MR.GAURAV NAVLANI
KEYWORDS:
Energy, renewable, fuels, microbial fermentation, bio-hydrogen.
INTRODUCTION:
The use of alternative and renewable sources of power production is now a main
stream concept in the global energy discussion, and the concept of transportation fuels such
as ethanol from non-petroleum sources is becoming familiar to a majority of consumers.
Hydrogen has the potential to provide energy for stationary conversion devices such as fuel
cells as well as for transportation needssince it has high calorific value.Researchers have been
working on the exploration of new sustainable energy source that could substitute fossil fuels.
In recent times a great deal of attention is being paid to the usage of hydrogen as alternative
and eco-friendly fuel throughout the world. Presently hydrogen is produced mainly from
fossil fuel, biomass, and water by chemical methods. Biological production of hydrogen is
one of the alternative methods where processes can be operated at ambient temperatures and
pressure, and are less energy intensive and more environmental friendly as compared to
chemical method.
The scope this project work is to produce bio - hydrogen by fermentation using
thermophilic bacteria and come up with the optimum conditions facilitating maximum yield
of hydrogen gas. Glycerol which is a byproduct from bio-diesel plants, generally considered
as of very low value, is identified as the carbon source to generate hydrogen.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Identify the mesophilic bacteria suitable to produce H2 gas.
2. Identify the thermophilic bacteria suitable to produce H2 gas.
3. Study the acclimatization of the bacteria to medium prepared using glycerol as the
source of carbon.
4. Study the microbial growthkineticsand the hydrogen production rateand to optimize
the process conditions.
METHODOLOGY:
1. A thermophilic bacterium suitable to produce bio hydrogen is identified andinoculated
using the standard medium.
2. The glycerol from biodiesel plants is tested for its composition and purified.
3. A laboratory scale batch fermentation unit is set up as shown in the figure for carrying
out the experimental work.
4. The bacteria is acclimatized to the medium prepared with the organic source –
glycerol.
5. Fermentation runs is carried out to study the bacterial growth and the hydrogen gas
production rate by varying the composition of glycerol. The medium composition will
be optimized using the experimental data.
6. The temperature and pH is continuously monitored and maintained. The volume of
gas generated will be collected by water displacement method.
7. The gas sample will be analyzed for hydrogen gas yield by Gas Chromatography.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:
1. Characterisation of glycerol: Crude glycerol was characterized and properties such as
density, alkalinity, ash content and the glucose content were found to be as shown
below:
a. Density of crude = 1083.179 kg/m3
b. Alkalinity =3.367 ml/ g
c. Ash content = 2.6%
d. Glucose content = 0.6 g/ml
2. Purification of glycerol: As crude glycerol is impure; it has to be purified before it can
be used for fermentation. As glycerol was found to be basic, acidification studies were
carried out with HCl, H2SO4 and H3PO4. The acidified samples were tested for
absorbance using UV Spectrophotometer at 457nm. The sample purified with H2SO4
showed better results.
3. A fermentation trial is carried by inoculating the media with 2 ml of Thermatogo
Maritima. The generation of gas is continuously monitored by water displacement
method and the gas collected after the growth of the organism will be analysed by Gas
Chromatography for the hydrogen yield. The growth of the organism during the
growth phase was ascertained with a microscopic stain test.
SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK:
In our work we have considered only the production of hydrogen. But a big challenge
lies on how to store the produced hydrogen. Also separation of hydrogen from other gases
produced is another challenge. Some methods should be recognised to separate hydrogen
economically from the rest of gases. Also use of mixed culture should also be optimized to
increase the yield of hydrogen gas.