Hydrogen production from rotten dates by sequential three stages fermentation

This study was devoted for H₂ production from rotten fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by three fermentation stages. A facultative anaerobe, Escherichia coli EGY was used in first stage to consume O₂ and maintain strict anaerobic conditions for a second stage dark fermentative H₂ production by the strictly anaerobic Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. Subsequently, a third stage photofermentation using Rhodobacter capsulatus DSM 1710 has been conducted for the H₂ production. The maximum total H₂ yield of the three stages (7.8 mol H₂ mol⁻¹ sucrose) was obtained when 5 g L⁻¹ of sucrose was supplemented to fermentor as rotten date fruits. A maximum estimated cumulative H₂ yield of the three stages (162 LH₂ kg⁻¹ fresh rotten dates) was estimated at the (5 g L⁻¹) sucrose concentration. These results suggest that rotten dates can be efficiently used for commercial H₂ production. The described protocol did not require addition of a reducing agent or flashing with argon which both are expensive.