1. Synergistic effects of paper mill sludge and sulfonated graphene catalyst for maximizing bio-hydrogen harvesting from sugarcane bagasse de-polymerization.
- Author
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Tawfik, Ahmed, M.Azzam, Ahmed, El-Dissouky, A., Ibrahim, Aya Y., and Nasr, Mahmoud
- Subjects
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PAPER mills , *SUGARCANE harvesting , *BUTYRATES , *BAGASSE , *GRAPHENE , *CATALYSTS - Abstract
In this study, hydrogen harvesting from fermentation of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was promoted by maintaining synergism between sulfonated graphene (SGR) catalyst and paper mill sludge (PMS). The sulfonic acid (–SO 3 H) groups in the catalyst played a major role in destructing the β-1,4 glycosidic bonds of sugarcane bagasse, releasing readily biodegradable sugars into the fermentation medium. The cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin conversion efficiency were improved by 127.5%, 495.0%, and 109.2%, respectively with 20 mgSGR/gVS catalyst addition, compared with the control samples. These values were also higher than those obtained by non-sulfonated graphene catalyst. The hydrogenation of sugarcane bagasse was maximized at a sulfonated graphene catalyst dosage of 60 mgSGR/gVS, providing the highest hydrogen harvesting of 4104 ± 321 mL. This was associated with an increase of the Proteobacteria phyla up to 52.0%, Firmicutes phyla to 13.9%, and Acinetobacter sp. to 39.8% compared with only 37.0%, 11.3% and 11.1% in the control assay respectively. Moreover, sulfonated graphene catalyst supplementation promoted the acetate fermentation reaction pathway by increasing the acetate/butyrate ratio up to 4.1. Nevertheless, elevating the catalyst dosage up to 120 mgSGR/gVS reduced the hydrogen harvesting (1190 ± 92 mL) due to the release of furfural (1.76 ± 0.02 g/L) in the fermentation cultures, deteriorating the microbes' internal composition and metabolism bioactivities. Finally maximizing the hydrogen productivity from sugarcane bagasse is feasible by incorporation of paper mill sludge and sulfonated graphene catalyst at dosage not exceeding 60 mgSGR/gVS. However, investigating the recyclability and disposal of digestate containing sulfonated graphene catalyst and the associated economic feasibility needs more attention in the future. [Display omitted] • Sugarcane bagasse was fermented by paper mill sludge supported on sulfonated graphene. • Synergism between paper mill sludge/sulfonated graphene improved bio-H 2 by 4.8 times. • Sulfonated graphene promoted acetate fermentation (HAc/HBu of 4.1) and inhibited HPr. • Acinetobacter degrading phenol increased by 3.6 folds with sulfonated graphene catalyst. • MolDock visualized H-bonding in hydrogenase protein/sulfonated graphene interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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