Hydrogen Production with Escherichia Coli Isolated from Municipal Sewage Sludge

Abstract

We isolated hydrogen producing microbial strains from municipal sewage sludge in Thailand. The experiments were performed in 0.7 liter of Reinforced Clostridial Media (RCM) at pH 6.8 and 30±1ํC. Hydrogen producing isolates were identified as Escherichia coli and Enterobacter sp. by 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis. E. coli S3 demonstrated a maximum hydrogen production rate of 16.07±0.53 ml-H2/l/h after 24 hours of incubation. The maximal cumulative hydrogen yield of 269.92±8.87 ml (calculated at STP) and the hydrogen yield of 0.84±0.06 mol-H2/mol-glucose were obtained at an initial glucose concentration of 0.5% (w/v), pH 6.8 and 30±1ํC.

Key words: bio-hydrogen, E. coli, sewage sludge