Microbial mechanisms for higher hydrogen production in anaerobic digestion at constant temperature versus gradient heating

Abstract Background Clean energy hydrogen (H2) produced from abundant lignocellulose is an alternative to fossil energy. As an essential influencing factor, there is a lack of comparison between constant temperatures (35, 55 and 65 °C) and gradient heating temperature (35 to 65 °C) on the H2 production regulation potential from lignocellulose-rich straw via high-solid anaerobic digestion (HS-AD). More importantly, the microbial mechanism of temperature regulating H2 accumulation needs to be investigated. Results Constant 65 °C led to the lowest lignin residue (1.93%) and the maximum release of cellulose and hemicellulose, and the highest H2 production (26.01 mL/g VS). H2 production at 35 and 55 °C was only 14.56 and 24.13 mL/g VS, respectively. In order to further explore the potential of ultra-high temperature (65 °C), HS-AD was performed by gradient heating conditions (35 to 65 °C). However, compared to constant 65 °C, gradient heating conditions led to higher lignin residue (2.49%) and lower H2 production (13.53 mL/g VS) than gradient heating conditions (47.98%). In addition, metagenomic analysis showed the cellulose/hemicellulose hydrolyzing bacteria and genes (mainly Thermoclostridium, and xynA, xynB, abfA, bglB and xynD), H2-producing bacteria and related genes (mainly Thermoclostridium, and nifD, nifH and nifK), and microbial movement and metabolic functions were enriched at 65 °C. However, the enrichment of two-component systems under gradient heating conditions resulted in a lack of highly-enriched ultra-high-temperature cellulose/hemicellulose hydrolyzing genera and related genes but rather enriched H2 consumption genera and genes (mainly Acetivibrio, and hyaB and hyaA) resulting in a weaker H2 production. Conclusions The lignin degradation process does not directly determine H2 accumulation, which was actually regulated by bacteria/genes contributing to H2 production/consumption. In addition, it is temperature that enhances the hydrolysis process of lignin rather than lignin-degrading enzymes, bacteria and genes by promoting microbial material transfer and metabolism. In terms of temperature, one of the key parameters of HS-AD for H2 production, we developed an important regulatory strategy, enriched the theoretical basis of temperature regulation for H2 production to further expanded the research horizon in this field. Video Abstract