Studies were conducted to investigate the H
2 production and degradation of microcrystalline cellulose by pretreated mesophilic digested sludge. Kinetic responses confirmed that the results of this study were highly reliable. Characteristics of the sludge converting the cellulose into H
2 was similar to that of anaerobic spore-forming bacteria of the genus
Clostridium. The results obtained emphasize that lag-period times of metabolites production depended upon initial cellulose concentration. When the cellulose exceeded 25g/L, H
2 significantly inhibited the sludge's hydrogenic activity. Initial cellulose concentration notwithstanding, soluble carbohydrates accumulation was still an important factor in affecting production potentials of metabolites.
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