Title : Sustainable biohydrogen production: Nanoparticle-mediated lignin degradation within a single-pot consolidated bioprocessing system
Abstract:
This study aimed to develop an environmentally sustainable hydrogen production process by integrating nanotechnology with consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). Peroxidase-mimicking CeFe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs, 4.0 g/L) were used to degrade lignin in raw corn cob (CC) biomass, producing cellulose-hemicellulose fractions suitable for Clostridium cellulovorans during fermentation.The NP treatment reduced the lignin content of the raw CC by 43.26%. This treated biomass was then utilized for hydrogen fermentation by C. cellulovorans via the CBP approach. The C. cellulovorans strain achieved a maximum cumulative hydrogen volume of 78.45 mL and a hydrogen production rate of 1.55 mL/h using the NP-treated CC. This research presents the first investigation into enhanced hydrogen production from NP-treated CC biomass in a single-pot fermentation system, potentially offering a simpler, more accessible, and cost-effective process.
