Hydrogen Production Through Anaerobic Fermentation of Crude Glycerol and Its Use for Fuel Cell Power Generation

Abstract

A way of processing and utilising crude glycerol, a byproduct from biodiesel fuel (BDF) production, is described. Anaerobic fermentation of crude glycerol as substrate with an inoculum from easily obtainable cattle excrement led to the suppression of methane production and enhanced hydrogen fermentation. Biohydrogen production with H2/glycerol (in crude glycerol) molar ratio of 0.17 was achieved.  Characteristics of this hydrogen fermentation were investigated, and factors contributing to this phenomenon were identified as synergy  among the impurities present in BDF byproduct glycerol, viz., methanol and KOH, with pure glycerol for the production of H2. The usability of this biohydrogen for direct power generation without further purification or processing through a polymer electrode fuel cell (PEFC) was demonstrated, with a possible power generation of 117 J/g of crude glycerol.