Effect of static magnetic field exposure on biohydrogen production via dark fermentation of glucose

Abstract

The effect of a static magnetic field (SMF) on the microbial activity of anaerobic granular sludge was investigated using a SMF field provided by a magnetic platform with intensities between 30 and 90 mT. BioH2 production was assessed in fed batch fermentation tests from glucose using anaerobic granular sludge with (HT) and without (WHT) heat shock pretreatment (100 ºC, 1 h). Under the conditions tested, 70 mT SMF was the best condition for bioH2 production, with a threefold decrease of lag time, a 12–50% increase in bioH2 production rate, and an improved consumption of iron and phosphate, compared to the controls (no SMF). Exposure to the SMF induced modifications in volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, pH and conductivity, biomass concentration, exopolysaccharide (EPS) composition as well as size and settleability of the granular anaerobic sludge. Microbial analysis showed that in the presence of the SMF, the relative abundance (RA) of Clostridium and Lactobacillus increased in both HT and WHT sludges, while it decreased the RA of Methanosaeta and Methanobacterium. The RA of Terrisporobacter increased with the heat shock, and also the stimulation along the fed batch cycles improved the RA of Terrisporobacter with and without SMF. The application of the SMF as a pre-treatment of inoculum and during bioH2 production seems to be an interesting and easy scaling up strategy to shorten the start-up of the dark fermentation process and help reducing the microbial diversity of the sludge, favouring more specialized species for bioH2 production.