Improving Biohydrogen Evolution from Glucose with Magnetic Activated Carbon

Magnetic activated carbon (MAC) was fabricated to improve biohydrogen (bio-H₂) production. The MAC exhibited higher biocatalytic capability and better microbial immobilization than activated carbon (AC) during the bio-H₂ process. Glucose supplemented with 200 mg/L MAC obtained the highest H₂ yield of 214 mL/g glucose, much higher than that (130 mL/g glucose) of the control group without MAC. Suitable dosage such as 300 mg/L AC or 200 mg/L MAC promoted volatile fatty acid (VFA) formation and H₂ generation. Besides, the metabolites showed that AC or MAC did not change the bio-H₂ evolution pathway. Some possible biochemical mechanisms were as follows: MAC served as a microbial carrier to promote cell colonization and electron transfer rate, and it released Fe³⁺ to enhance glucose acidogenesis and Fe²⁺ to increase microbial concentration and activity in the bio-H₂ evolution.

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