Optimization of Biohydrogen Production from Cornstalk Through Surface Response Methodology

The effective utilization of cornstalk to produce hydrogen by dark-fermentation hydrogen production has shown great potential as future technology to meet the energy demands from renewable energy source and waste management. In the present study, biohydrogen production from cornstalk by Clostridium butyricum was optimized through response surface methodology by studying various parameters. The biohydrogen production was evaluated with hydrogen yield with the function of various factors using regression models. The maximum hydrogen yield of 40.62 mL/g was observed at temperature of 35.61 degrees C, inoculation quantity of 10.25%, substrate concentration of 50.87 g/L, and initial pH of 6.60. Electron microscopic images showed that the structure of cornstalk was seriously damaged, which was conducive to the improvement of hydrogen production.