HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM GLYCEROL USING MICROBIAL ELECTROLYSIS CELL

Abstract

Energy is an important component in the current scenario. Creating new technologies for improving the energy demand and supply balance is important. Microbial electrolysis cell is a developing technology to generate hydrogen which could save on the fossil fuels conventionally used as source of energy. In this study, the possibility was explored to use glycerol which is one of the by products from biodiesel plant as the substrate for hydrogen production. The microbial electrolysis cell consists of stainless steel as cathode and graphite plate as anode. Cationic exchange membrane (CMI 7000) was used for the exchange of hydrogen ions from anode chamber to cathode chamber. External voltage of 0.8 V was supplied to the microbial electrolysis cell using a regulated power supply. Pseudomonas bacteria were added along with the substrate. The hydrogen gas evolved was collected by the downward displacement of water. The gas was sampled and analyzed using gas chromatography. The concentration of hydrogen in the gas was found to be 50.3%.