Abstract
Anaerobic fermentation using Clostridium butyricum NCIB 9576, and photo-fermentation using Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides E15-1 were studied for the production of hydrogen from Makkoli, fruits (orange & apple, watermelon & melon) and Tofu wastewaters. From the Makkoli wastewater, which contained $0.94g/{\ell}$ sugars and $2.74g/{\ell}$ soluble starch, approximately $49mM\;H_2/{\ell}$ wastewater was produced during the initial 18h of the anaerobic fermentation with pH control between 6.5-7.0. Several organic acids such as butyric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid and ethanol were also produced. From Watemlelon and melon wastewater, which contained $43g/{\ell}$ sugars, generated about approximately $71mM\;H_2/{\ell}$ wastewater was produced during the initial 24 h of the anaerobic fermentation. Tofu wastewater, pH 6.5, containing $12.6g/{\ell}$ soluble starch and $0.74g/{\ell}$ sugars, generated about $30mM\;H_2/{\ell}$ wastewater, along with some organic acids, during the initial 24 h of anaerobic fermentation. Makkoli and Tofu wastewaters as substrates for the photo-fermentation by Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides E15-1 produced approximately 37.9 and $22.2{\mu}M\;H_2/m{\ell}$ wastewaters, respectively for 9 days of incubation under the average of 9,000-10,000 lux illumination at the surface of reactor using tungsten halogen lamps. Orange and apple wastewater, which contained 93.4 g/l, produced approximately $13.1{\mu}M\;H_2/m{\ell}$ wastewater only for 2 days of photo-fermentation and the growth of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides E15-1 and hydrogen production were stopped.