(564d) Potential for Hydrogen Production Using Microbial Electrolysis Cells From Biorefinery Recycle Water

Microbial electrolysis cells are devices that use biocatalysis and electrolysis for production of hydrogen from organic matter. Biorefinery process streams contain fermentation byproducts and inhibitors which accumulate in the process stream if the water is recycled. These molecules also affect biomass to ethanol yields if not removed from the recycle water. Presence of sugar- and lignin- degradation products such as furfural, vanillic acid and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde has been shown to reduce fermentation yields. In this work, we calculate the potential for hydrogen production using microbial electrolysis cells (MFCs) from these molecules as substrates. This is based on previous demonstration of electricity production from these substrates. We discuss the impact of producing hydrogen as an alternate product in an ethanol biorefinery process and discuss the potential for enabling water recycle and improvement in overall energy yield from the biomass conversion process.