Effect of metal ions on hydrogen production from glucose by Ethanougenens harbinense B49

The individual and interactive effects of Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ concentration on the biohydrogen production from glucose by mixed Ethanoligenens harbinense B49 were investigated in this study. The orthogonal experimental design [L₂₇(3¹³)] was used in the experiments in order to determine the optimum conditions for biohydrogen production. The hydrogen production, liquid end production and substrate degradation efficiency were investigated. Experimental results show that Fe²⁺ and Mg²⁺ could enhance the hydrogen production during the present investigation concentration. Hydrogen production increased at Zn²⁺ concentration from 0.1 mg/L to 0.25 mg/L, but was inhibited from 1 mg/L to 10 mg/L. The individual effect order of three ions is Fe²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Zn²⁺ at the certain concentration. Fe²⁺ and Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were interdependent or there was a significant interaction on hydrogen production.