Modeling and statistical analysis of heat-shocked sulfate-reducers and methanogens rich consortiums for hydrogen and methane production in a bio-electrochemical cell

Abstract This study was carried to investigate the effect of thermal pre-treatment at 55 °C, 65 °C, 75 °C, and 85 °C on sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and methanogens to check their potential in a Bio-electrochemical system (BES) for hydrogen and methane production. The experimental results indicate that SRB culture pre-treated at 55 °C could be used efficiently in hydrogen production up to 2.814 ± 0.091 M/M of glucose. A significant drop in methane production from Phase-I to Phase-III with an increase in pre-treatment temperature was observed. Volatile fatty acids production was found highest in Phase-III, with butyric acid in major concentration at the pre-treatment temperature range of 55 °C–65 °C in SRB-based BES. The higher hydrogen production conditions were tested with various models i.e. the Gompertz model, Richard model, and Logistic model to confirm its validity and hydrogen production prediction. Richard's model was found best fitted for cumulative hydrogen production.