INOVASI TEKNOLOGI BIOHIDROGEN DARI LIMBAH BIOMASA KE ENERGI LISTRIK DENGAN TEKNOLOGI FUEL-CELL

Abstract

Enterobacter aerogenes ADH-43, Bacillus pumillus Asp-8 and co-culture of both
microorganism was inoculated and fermented by using molasses as by product of
sugar factory, sugar starch, and glycerol as by product of biodiesel into hydrogen gas
(H2). Both producing double mutant bacteria as a facultative anaerobe and who was
obtained by classical mutagenetically treated in order to enhance H2 producing. We
have obtained that E. aerogenes ADH-43 has highest ability for molasses fermentation,
and the volume H2 reached 4,0 l H2/l molasses.The fermentation was carried out in 50
ml vial bootle, 37 oC, pH 5.8 and 20 hrs. Optimization of molasses concentration was
performed in order to study the inhibition, and finally, 2 % of molasses was found. To
enhance the yield and H2 flow rate, the fed-batch system was applied into 6 l Stirred
Tank Fermentor (STR). Innitial volume 2 l of medium was fermented, 1 l fresh medium
was added into reactor at 6 and 9 hrs of fermentation time. Finally the achieved volume
H2 was 6,5 l H2/l molasses, the remained molases was 0,2 %, and the fermentation
time could be prolonged 4 hrs compare to bacth fermentation. We have also found the
relationship between the H2 evolution rate and the voltage of electrical formed when
we connected into 7 stack of fuel-cell.