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In this study, a microbial consortium from an acid-treated rumen fluid was used to improve the yields of H 2 production from paper residues in batch reactors. The anaerobic batch reactors, which contained paper and cellulose, were operated under three conditions: (1) 0.5 g paper/L, (2) 2 g paper/L, and (3) 4 g paper/L. Cellulase was added to promote the hydrolysis of paper to soluble sugars. The H 2 yields were 5.51, 4.65, and 3.96 mmol H 2 /g COD, respectively, with substrate degradation ranging from 56 to 65.4 %. Butyric acid was the primary soluble metabolite in the three reactors, but pronounced solventogenesis was detected in the reactors incubated with increased paper concentrations (2.0 and 4.0 g/L). A substantial prevalence of Clostridium acetobutylicum (99 % similarity) was observed in the acid-treated rumen fluid, which has been recognized as an efficient H 2 -producing strain in addition to ethanol and n-butanol which were also detected in the reactors.

The objective of this work was to investigate the influence of hydrogen bonds between fibres on static and dynamic strength properties of paper. A commercial bleached pinewood kraft pulp was soaked in water, refined in a PFI, and used to form paper webs in different solvents, such as water, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol and n-butanol, to determine the effect of their dipole moment on static and dynamic strength properties of resulting paper sheets. Paper which was formed in water, being the solvent of the highest dipole moment among the tested ones, showed the highest breaking length and tear resistance. When paper webs were formed in n-butanol, which was the least polar among the solvents, these parameters were reduced by around 75%. These results provide evidence of the importance of water in paper web formation and strong impact of hydrogen bonds between fibres on strength properties of paper.

Low-temperature, solution-based self-assembly of vanadia nanofibers yields a free-standing, ceramic paper with an outstanding combination of high strength, stiffness, and macroscopic flexibility. Its excellent mechanical performance results from a brick-and-mortar like architecture, which combines strong covalent bonding within the single-crystalline nanofibers with an intricate hydrogen bonding network between them., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Dark anaerobic fermentation is an interesting alternative method for producing biohydrogen (H(2)) as a renewable fuel because of its low cost and various usable organic substrates. Pulping sludge from wastewater treatment containing plentiful cellulosic substrate could be feasibly utilized for H(2) production by dark fermentation. The objective of this study was to investigate the optimal proportion of pulping sludge to paper waste, the optimal initial pH, and the optimal ratio of carbon and nitrogen (C/N) for H(2) production by anaerobic seed sludge pretreated with heat. The pulping sludge was pretreated with NaOH solution at high temperature and further hydrolyzed with crude cellulase. Pretreatment of the pulping sludge with 3% NaOH solution under autoclave at 121 °C for 2 h, hydrolysis with 5 FPU crude cellulase at 50 °C, and pH 4.8 for 24 h provided the highest reducing sugar production yield (229.68 ± 2.09 mg/g(TVS)). An initial pH of 6 and a C/N ratio of 40 were optimal conditions for H(2) production. Moreover, the supplement of paper waste in the pulping sludge enhanced the cumulative H(2) production yield. The continuous hydrogen production was further conducted in a glass reactor with nylon pieces as supporting media and the maximum hydrogen production yield was 151.70 ml/g(TVS).

The feasibility and performance of hydrogen production from paper sludge without inoculation was investigated under thermophilic conditions. The maximum hydrogen production reached 64.32 mM with 7.4% PS. The dynamic changes in bacterial community structures during hydrogen production were investigated by analyzing 16S rDNA gene sequences using high throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that microbial community was dominated by order Clostridiales and Thermoanaerobacterales. Genus Thermoanaerobacterium and Ruminiclostridium played a leading role in the fermentation process, which was responsible for the hydrolysis of PS and hydrogen production. Effect of inoculation with Clostridium thermocellum on hydrogen production from PS was also studied. The results showed that C. thermocellum supplement significantly increased hydrogen yield and holocellulose degradation rate by 96.80% and 32.95%, respectively. In addition, inoculation of C. thermocellum enhanced VFA generation and shortened the lag phase of hydrogen production. The present study lays the foundation on the valorization of waste lignocellulose., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs) were successfully synthesized in situ on ZnO whiskers as a selective scaffold, which were supported in a microstructured paper matrix composed of inorganic fibers; as-prepared paper composites were easy to handle in practical use and demonstrated excellent catalytic performance in the methanol reforming process for effective hydrogen production.

Ni-doped WC/Mo 2 C composites for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) were synthesized in situ grown on carbon fiber paper (CFP) by molten salt method in argon at 1000 °C for 6 h, named as Ni-xWC-y/2Mo 2 C@CFP. The effects of different W/Mo molar ratios (3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3) on the phase composition, microstructures, and HER performances were investigated. The results showed that the W/Mo molar ratio had a synergistic effect in HER of Ni-doped WC/Mo 2 C composites, and as W/Mo molar ratio at 1:1, the composite presented the best electrocatalytic activity. Meanwhile, its surface appeared to have a wrinkle-like structure, and the biphasic heterostructure emerged at the intersection of the dual-phase WC and Mo 2 C lattices. The introduction of a biphasic heterostructure could promote charge transfer and improve HER efficiency. Predictably, the electrocatalysts with the optimal W/Mo molar ratio 1:1 exhibited the best hydrogen evolution performance, needed only 43.7 mV overpotential to reach 10 mA cm−2 current density with a Tafel slope at 21.3 mV dec−1. In this work, the high-efficiency electrocatalysts of Ni-doped 1WC-1/2Mo 2 C@CFP have been prepared, which provides an insight into theoretical research of composite carbon-based electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) papers were successfully prepared by dispersing SWNTs in Triton X-100 solution, then filtered by PVDF membrane (0.22 microm pore size). The electrochemical behavior and the reversible hydrogen storage capacity of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) papers have been investigated in alkaline electrolytic solutions (6 N KOH) by cyclic voltammetry, linear micropolarization, and constant current charge/discharge measurements. The effect of thickness and the addition of carbon black on hydrogen adsorption/desorption were also investigated. It was found that the electrochemical charge-discharge mechanism occurring in SWNT paper electrodes is somewhere between that of carbon nanotubes (physical process) and that of metal hydride electrodes (chemical process), and consists of a charge-transfer reaction (Reduction/Oxidation) and a diffusion step (Diffusion).

The objective of this work was to determine the hydrogen production from paper mill wastes using microbial consortia of solid substrate anaerobic digesters. Inocula from mesophilic, continuous solid substrate anaerobic digestion (SSAD) reactors were transferred to small lab scale, batch reactors. Milled paper (used as a surrogate paper waste) was added as substrate and acetylene or 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) was spiked for methanogenesis inhibition. In the first phase of experiments it was found that acetylene at 1% v/v in the headspace was as effective as BES in inhibiting methanogenic activity. Hydrogen gas accumulated in the headspace of the bottles, reaching a plateau. Similar final hydrogen concentrations were obtained for reactors spiked with acetylene and BES. In the second phase of tests the headspace of the batch reactors was flushed with nitrogen gas after the first plateau of hydrogen was reached, and subsequently incubated, with no further addition of inhibitor nor substrate. It was found that hydrogen production resumed and reached a second plateau, although somewhat lower than the first one. This procedure was repeated a third time and an additional amount of hydrogen was obtained. The plateaux and initial rates of hydrogen accumulation decreased in each subsequent incubation cycle. The total cumulative hydrogen harvested in the three cycles was much higher (approx. double) than in the first cycle alone. We coined this procedure as IV-SSAH (intermittently vented solid substrate anaerobic hydrogen generation). Our results point out to a feasible strategy for obtaining higher hydrogen yields from the fermentation of industrial solid wastes, and a possible combination of waste treatment processes consisting of a first stage IV-SSAH followed by a second SSAD stage. Useful products of this approach would be hydrogen, organic acids or methane, and anaerobic digestates that could be used as soil amenders after post-treatment.

The main objective of this study was to develop a system for the production of "renewable" hydrogen. Paper sludge is a solid industrial waste yielding mainly cellulose, which can be used, after hydrolysis, as a feedstock in anaerobic fermentation by (hyper)thermophilic organisms, such as Thermotoga elfii and Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus. Tests on different medium compositions showed that both bacteria were able to produce hydrogen from paper sludge hydrolysate, but the amount of produced hydrogen and the requirement for other components differed. Hydrogen production by T. elfii strongly depended on the presence of yeast extract and salts. By contrast, C. saccharolyticus was less dependent on medium components but seemed to be inhibited by a component present in the sludge hydrolysate. Utilization of xylose was preferred over glucose by C. saccharolyticus.

Paper waste is a raw material for a lot of products with different added value. The engineering, economic and environmental aspects of paper waste recycling are analysed for production of composite material, cellulose nanofibers and nanocrystals, bricks with paper components, porous carbon, film of biopolymer, enzymatic sugar and bioenergy: bioethanol, hydrogen and biofuel. Through multicriteria analysis, it was possible to determine the most feasible paper waste recycling product in case of four product groups: egg packaging boxes, cardboard, reused paper, cellulose nanomaterials (nanofibers and nanocrystals). The production of cellulose nanofibres and cellulose nanocrystals has an advantage over egg packaging and cardboard production as well as reusable paper.

This study addressed the utilization of an industrial waste stream, paper sludge, as a renewable cheap feedstock for the fermentative production of hydrogen by the extreme thermophile Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus. Hydrogen, acetate, and lactate were produced in medium in which paper sludge hydrolysate was added as the sole carbon and energy source and in control medium with the same concentration of analytical grade glucose and xylose. The hydrogen yield was dependent on lactate formation and varied between 50 and 94% of the theoretical maximum. The carbon balance in the medium with glucose and xylose was virtually 100%. The carbon balance was not complete in the paper sludge medium because the measurement of biomass was impaired owing to interfering components in the paper sludge hydrolysate. Nevertheless, >85% of the carbon could be accounted for in the products acetate and lactate. The maximal volumetric hydrogen production rate was 5 to 6 mmol/(L x h), which was lower than the production rate in media with glucose, xylose, or a combination of these sugars (9-11 mmol/[L x h]). The reduced hydrogen production rate suggests the presence of inhibiting components in paper sludge hydrolysate.

1 Amorphous carbon was facilely obtained via the treatment of waste papers with sulfuric acid. 2 The combination of amorphous carbon with graphitic carbon nitride leads to an increased photo-catalytic H 2 generation. 3 The enhancement in H 2 generation is resultant from the efficient separation of electrons and holes owing to the excellent electrical conductivity of amorphous carbon. Up-cycling of waste papers to value-added carbon products has significant environmental and economic benefits in real life. This work aims to recycle the waste papers to construct amorphous carbon modified graphitic carbon nitride composite photocatalysts for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water under visible light. Amorphous carbon (labeled as a-C) was yielded from the office waste papers by simple sulphuric-acid treatment and then combined with graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) to form the g-CN/a-C composite photocatalysts by the thermolysis of a-C and melamine mixture. The addition of a-C enlarges the surface area of g-CN from 11.52 m2 g−1 of pristine g-CN to 28.12 m2 g−1 of g-CN/a-C-100. In addition, the a-C incorporation can significantly separate the electrons from the photoexcited g-CN owing to the excellent conductivity of a-C. As a result, an increased photocatalytic H 2 generation was realized under visible light exposure. The g-CN/a-C-100 sample with optimized a-C contents offers the highest photocatalytic H 2 generation rate of up to 17.1 μ mol h−1, which is ∼12 times higher than that of pristine g-CN under the same condition. The present study manifests the great potential of the recycling of office waste papers for increased photocatalytic H 2 generation. Graphical Abstract [Display omitted]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the hydrogen production and energy conversion from automobile shredder residues (ASRs) and paper mill sludge (PMS) co-gasified in a full-scale fluidized bed gasification plant. The results obtained from full-scale tests provided important information on the feasible assessment of ASRs-to-energy and the selection of alternative technologies for ASRs. Based on the analysis results of produced gas composition, H 2 , CO, and CH 4 composition produced from paper-mill sludge gasified were 4.17%–6.01%, 3.08%–4.32%, 1.71%–2.4%, respectively. Another C 2 gas composition ranged from 2.9% to 3.59%. The heating value of produced gas ranged between 1.64 MJ/Nm3 and 2.18 MJ/Nm3. In the case of 10% ASR addition, the heating value of produced gas was slightly increased to 1.84 MJ/Nm3-2.34 MJ/Nm3. The dioxin emission concentration of flue gas was approximately 0.064 ng I-TEQ/Nm3. It can comply with Taiwan regulation thresholds. The dioxin leaching concentrations of residues derived from gasification were also in compliance with regulation limits by the TCLP test. Meanwhile, in the case of 10% ASRs addition, the dioxin equivalence concentration of gasified residue was nearly 0.002 ng I-TEQ/Nm3. It was far below the current regulation standard limit. In summary, the results of this research have proved the performance of ASRs-to-energy by co-gasified with paper mill sludge using a full-scale gasification plant. The results obtained from this research also provided the information for selecting ASRs alternative technologies and operating full-scale gasifiers in the future. [Display omitted] • This study has confirmed the feasibility of co-gasification of calcium-rich PMS and chlorine-rich ASRs. • Adding 5%–15% of ASRs can maintain the regular operation of the full-scale commercial gasifier. • The synthesis gas has a composition of 4.91 vol% H 2 and 2.06 vol% CO, with a LHV of 1.93 MJ/Nm3. • The HCl emission could comply with regulation thresholds in co-gasification. • Dioxin reformation reduced significantly in co-gasification of PMS and ASRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We herein demonstrate polypyrrole decorated micro-porous laboratory filter paper (PFP) as photoanode (PA) for efficient and stable water splitting. The straddling band position with water redox and the measured band gap of ~1.98 eV, make these PFP-PAs effective for water splitting reactions. The results manifest excellent photo-anodic PEC activity of these PFP-PAs, yielding a photocurrent density of ~9.5 mA/cm2 (at 1.23 V vs. RHE) in a three-electrode configuration. The incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) and applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) was measured to be 43.19% and ~1%, respectively. Moreover, the robustness of these flexible PFP-PAs was visualized by the provided stability for more than ~160 min in alkaline conditions. The current study provides a proof-of-concept for the realization of a cost-effective, flexible, and efficient paper-based artificial catalyst (like a natural leaf) for solar-driven water splitting. Image 1 • In-situ fabricated polypyrrole based flexible filter paper photo electrode (PFP-PEs). • Exhibit a bandgap of ~1.98 eV and reported as PEs for water splitting. • Photocurrent density of ~9.5 mA/cm2 (at 1.23 V vs. RHE) in 3-electrode system. • IPCE and ABPE was measured to be 43.19% and ~1%, respectively. • PFP-PEs stable for 160 min in alkaline conditions for PEC water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid scintillator (LS)-encapsulated silica was prepared by the sol-gel method and then was added dropwise onto a wipe paper to form a paper scintillator. First, the efficiencies of wipe were determined for both the paper scintillator and the wipe paper using a liquid scintillation counter (LSC). The efficiencies of wipe using the paper scintillator and the wipe paper were 88 and 36 %, respectively. The detection efficiencies were 5.5 % for the paper scintillator, 46 % for the wipe paper using an LS and 0.08 % for the (3)H/(14)C survey meter, respectively, compared with that of a melt-on scintillator of 47 %. Second, an (3)H contaminant on the paper scintillator was successfully detected using a photomultiplier without an LSC or an (3)H/(14)C survey meter. Finally, the paper scintillator was able to detect beta rays of the (3)H contaminant easily without an LS.

Paper sludge is a by-product of the pulping process and is landfilled or incinerated for disposal. In this study, we evaluated ingestion and digestibility of carbohydrates, by the termite Coptotermes formosanus, in two kinds of sludges: sludge C from the chemical pulp mill and sludge M from the mechanical pulp mill. The no-choice tests using the termite for three weeks showed that the mass loss of sludge C was significantly higher than that of the control samples: a bleached pulp and red pine wood. It is considered that the higher inorganic content of sludge C resulted in the higher mass loss when the same amount of carbohydrates was taken by the pulp- or wood-fed termite. Although the inorganic content of sludge M was almost the same as that of sludge C, the higher lignin content in sludge M is thought to have resulted in the lower mass loss. Analysis of sugar composition in the faecal materials of the termite showed that about 73% of glucose and 81% of xylose in sludge C were digested. It was concluded that the digestibility of these sugars in sludge C was the same as that of the control samples despite containing high amounts of inorganic compounds. However, the hydrogen conversion rate by the termites that were fed sludge was lower than that of the termites that were fed pulp in the no-choice test for three days: one mole of glucose from the sludge and pulp was converted to 0.51 and 0.80 moles of hydrogen, respectively.

Paper and pulp mills generate substantial quantities of cellulose-rich sludge materials that are disposed in landfills at a large scale. For sustainability purposes, sludge materials can be bioprocessed to produce renewable fuels and useful chemicals. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is the process bottleneck that affects the conversion economics directly by using zero-cost raw materials. In order to study and optimize the process, the characteristics of the sludge raw materials should be first evaluated. In this work, sludge samples were obtained from paper mills located at different locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Part of the sludge samples was washed (de-ashed) with hydrochloric acid while the other part remained unwashed. The samples were subjected to multiple spectroscopic analyses techniques to evaluate the morphological properties of cellulose fibers and to estimate the total structural carbohydrate content. The results showed that the de-ashing process changed some fiber characteristics and cellulose crystallinity structure in all sludge samples. Sludge sample A (obtained from Kraft pulp and recycled paper mill region) showed a high percentage of fiber, with crystalline cellulose, compared to the other two sludge samples suggesting that sludge A is a valuable source to make value-added products. Aspen Plus mass and energy calculations performed in view of the 'zero' cost and the reliable supply of sludge raw materials producing 2 mol H 2 /mol glucose. Moreover, the results showed that extracting crystalline cellulose from these sludge samples is more profitable than crystalline cellulose made from the other lignocellulosic feedstocks. The results reported here showed that the utilization of these sludge materials would be an economically attractive and promising alternative for the production of hydrogen. Image 1 • A new method for paper mill sludge (PMS) characterization as renewable feedstock. • The deashing step has a major effect on the bioconversion of the PMS. • Studying the crystalline cellulose of the PMS. • A relation between the characterization and potential sugar yield was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pilot-scale experimental plant for the production of hydrogen and methane by a two-stage fermentation process was constructed and operated using a mixture of pulverized garbage and shredded paper wastes. Thermophilic hydrogen fermentation was established at 60 degrees C in the first bioreactor by inoculating with seed microflora. Following the hydrogenogenic process, methanogenesis in the second bioreactor was conducted at 55 degrees C using an internal recirculation packed-bed reactor (IRPR). After conducting steady-state operations under a few selected conditions, the overall hydraulic retention time was optimized at 8 d (hydrogenogenesis, 1.2 d; methanogenesis, 6.8 d), producing 5.4 m3/m3/d of hydrogen and 6.1 m3/m3/d of methane with chemical oxygen demand and volatile suspended solid removal efficiencies of 79.3% and 87.8%, respectively. Maximum hydrogen production yield was calculated to be 2.4 mol/mol hexose and 56 L/kg COD loaded. The methanogenic performance of the IRPR was stable, although the organic loading rate and the composition of the effluent from the hydrogenogenic process fluctuated substantially. A clone library analysis of the microflora in the hydrogenogenic reactor indicated that hydrogen-producing Thermoanaerobacterium-related organisms in the inoculum were active in the hydrogen fermentation of garbage and paper wastes, although no aseptic operations were applied. We speculate that the operation at high temperature and the inoculation of thermophiles enabled the selective growth of the introduced microorganisms and gave hydrogen fermentation efficiencies comparable to laboratory experiments. This is the first report on fermentative production of hydrogen and methane from organic waste at an actual level.

Lignin in chemical pulping waste, or black liquor (BL), can be converted into various products via supercritical water gasification (SCWG). However, the inherited alkaline contents from the pulping chemicals may affect the product yields and properties. In this research, the influence of the residual alkali on the product distribution via SCWG of soda BL and kraft BL was evaluated. The SCWG was performed in a batch quartz reactor for 10 min at various temperatures (673, 773 and 873 K) and pressures (250, 300 and 400 bar). The highest hydrogen (H 2 ) production occurred at 873 K for the soda BL. The water-gas shift reaction with sodium ions played an important part in the H 2 production, while only small amounts of methane and carbon monoxide were detected. Hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids and esters were the dominant substrates in the liquid products, which denoted the potential of this method for bond cleaving of the lignin macromolecule. As a result, BL, which typically contains alkali salt, was an appropriate feedstock for the SCWG reaction to produce renewable fuel. This method not only has a positive influence on the generation of value added products from highly corrosive waste but also helps avoid some technical problems commonly encountered with direct firing in a recovery boiler.

Lignocellulosic biomass offers substantial potential as an ideal feedstock for dark fermentative hydrogen production due to its sustainability and cost-effectiveness. The current study examined the influence of furfural on fermentative hydrogen production using lignocellulosic hydrolysate in the presence of furfural. Synthetic lignocellulosic hydrolysate, consisting primarily of 76% xylose, 10% glucose, 9% arabinose, and a mixture of other sugars such as galactose and mannose (85% pentose sugars and 15% hexose sugars), was employed as the substrate. Various substrate concentrations ranging from 2 to 32 g/L were tested, along with furfural concentrations of 0, 1, and 2 g/L. The investigation aimed to assess the effects of initial substrate concentration, initial furfural concentration, furfural-to-biomass ratio (F/B), and furfural-to-substrate ratio (F/S) on biohydrogen production yields. The maximum specific substrate utilization rates at different substrate concentrations were effectively characterized using Haldane's substrate inhibition model. Among the tested concentrations, the 16 g/L emerged as the optimal substrate concentration. The initial furfural concentration was identified as the most significant parameter impacting biohydrogen production, with complete inhibition observed at a furfural concentration of 2 g/L. Higher F/S ratios at substrate concentrations ranging from 2 to 16 g/L resulted in reduced maximum specific hydrogen production rates (MSHPR) and hydrogen yields. Substrate inhibition was observed at 24 g/L and 32 g/L. Lactate was the predominant metabolite in all batches containing 2-g/L furfural, as well as in batches with 1-g/L furfural and substrate concentrations of 24 and 32 g/L. Furfural at a concentration of 1 g/L was not inhibitory in any of the batches. Overall, the mixed cultures in this study could efficiently produce hydrogen from lignocellulosic hydrolysates and degrade furfural, providing new insights into fermentative hydrogen-producing bacteria with furfural tolerance., (© 2024. Crown.)

Paper-based sensors fabricated using the pencil-on-paper method are expected to find wide usage in many fields owing to their low cost and high reproducibility. Here, hydrogen (H2) detection was realized by applying palladium (Pd) nanoparticles (NPs) to electronic circuits printed on paper using a metal mask and a pencil. We confirmed that multilayered graphene was produced by the pencil, and then characterized Pd NPs were added to the pencil marks. To evaluate the gas-sensing ability of the sensor, its sensitivities and reaction rates in the presence and absence of H2 were measured. In addition, sensing tests performed over a wide range of H2 concentrations confirmed that the sensor had a detection limit as low as 1 ppm. Furthermore, the sensor reacted within approximately 50 s at all H2 concentrations tested. The recovery time of the sensor was 32 s at 1 ppm and 78 s at 1000 ppm. Sensing tests were also performed using Pd NPs of different sizes to elucidate the relationship between the sensing rate and catalyst size. The experimental results confirmed the possibility of fabricating paper-based gas sensors with a superior sensing capability and response rate.

A comparative evaluation of paperboard mill sludge (PMS) versus mixed culture bacteria (MCB) as inoculum for hydrogen production from paperboard mill wastewater (PMW) was investigated. The experiments were conducted at different initial cultivation pHs, inoculums to substrate ratios (ISRs gVS/gCOD), and hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The peak hydrogen yield (HY) of 5.29 ± 0.16 and 1.22 ± 0.11 mmol/gCODinitial was occurred at pH = 5 for MCB and PMS, respectively. At pH of 5, the HY and COD removal achieved the highest values of 2.26 ± 0.14 mmol/gCODinitial and 86 ± 1.6% at ISR = 6 for MCB, and 2.38 ± 0.25 mmol/gCODinitial and 60.4 ± 2.5% at ISRs = 3 for PMS. The maximum hydrogen production rate was 93.75 ± 8.9 mmol/day at HRT = 9.6 h from continuous upflow anaerobic reactor inoculated with MCB. Meanwhile, the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene fragments indicated a dominance of a novel hydrogen-producing bacterium of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia for PMS microbial community. On the other hand, Escherichia fergusonii and Enterobacter hormaechei were the predominant species for MCB.

This study investigated the use of calcined-lime mud from papermaking process (CLMP) pretreatment to improve fermentative hydrogen yields from corn-bran residue (CBR). CBR samples were pretreated with different concentrations (0-15 g/L) of CLMP at 55°C for 48 h, prior to the thermophilic fermentation with heat-treated anaerobic sludge inoculum. The maximum hydrogen yield (MHY) of 338.91 ml/g-VS was produced from the CBR pretreated with 10 g/L CLMP, with the corresponding lag-phase time of 8.24h. Hydrogen yield increments increased from 27.76% to 48.07%, compared to the control. The CLMP hydrolyzed more cellulose, which provided adequate substrates for hydrogen production., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)