Experimental study on biodegradation and hydrogen production performance of photosynthetic bacterial biofilm reactor

The biodegradation performance of a novel photosynthetic bacterial biofilm reactor for hydrogen production using glucose as the sole carbon source during the start-up stage and steady operation stage was investigated experimentally. The effects of operation parameters, such as light intensity, light wave length, inlet substrate concentration, temperature and pH of the substrate medium on the biodegradation efficiency of the photosynthesis hydrogen production biofilm reactor were studied respectively. The experimental results showed that the glucose elimination capacity of the bioreactor increased rapidly in the biofilm formation stage, then fluctuated in the growth stage, and finally kept almost constant in the stabilization stage. The biodegradation efficiency of the photosynthesis hydrogen production biofilm reactor increased with the increase in light intensity, inlet substrate concentration, temperature and pH till the biodegradation efficiency reached a maximum value. Then the biodegradation efficiency decreased with the increase in these parameters. In addition, light wave length had significant influence on the biodegradation efficiency.