Co-culture strategies for increased biohydrogen production

Abstract

Biological hydrogen production from organic wastes is a less expensive, less energy-demanding, and environmental-friendly process. Pure monoculture delivers low H2 content and low yield; these limitations are overcome by a defined co-culture system, which outperforms mixed cultures with increased H2 yield. The strategies used in co-culture systems for increasing H2 production have been discussed in this review. The strategies include hydrolysis of a variety of complex substrates, such as cellulose, molasses, crude glycerol, and algal biomass into simple fermentable sugars for increased H2 yield by eliminating the use of exogenous enzymes. The strategies can bring geographically distant isolated microorganisms from different sources to coexist for simultaneous utilization of substrate and end metabolites into H2 production of 99.99% purity without the expenses of reducing agents. In the case of maximum hydrogen production using co-culture strategies, Clostridium, Enterobacter, and photo-fermenting bacteria in a consolidated bioprocess system will result in increased H2 yield. A co-culture system is more feasible to achieve theoretical H2 yield with high conversion efficiency of organic wastes, enhance the economic viability of H2 production, provide better effluent treatment quality, and concurrently address the limitations of H2 production. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.