Purpose Application of cellulolytic bacteria for hydrogen production has dual benefits in the removal of wastes and as a
source of energy without prior treatment strategies. The main purpose of the current study to investigate the effect of calcium
oxide (CaO) nanoparticles on the dark fermentative generation of hydrogen by a pure cellulolytic bacterial strain using wheat
bran as a lignocellulosic feedstock.
Method In the current study, cellulose-decomposing bacteria Rossellomorea marisflavi strain Asu10 was tested for dark
fermentative biohydrogen production using wheat bran as a substrate. The impact of calcium chloride (
CaCl2) and CaONPs
on biohydrogen production was assessed.
Results The results revealed that the optimum conditions for bacterial utilization of wheat bran were at pH 7.0, 20 g/L substrate
concentration, and 120 rpm shaking after 48 h. The optimum hydrogen yields obtained were 2.1 and 0.9 mol H2/
mole
reducing sugars in a wheat bran fermentation media supplemented with 20 μg/mL of CaONPs and CaCl2;
respectively. The
optimum energy conversion efficiency (50.2%) was detected at the same concentration of CaONPs. However, the optimum
wheat bran saccharification yield (112.5%) was determined at 10 μg/mL CaONPs.
Conclusion The current study suggests the application of cellulolytic isolate R. marisflavi strain Asu10 as a promising tool
for the renewable production of biohydrogen from agricultural lignocellulosic substrates without the need for pretreatment,
the use of CaONPs as a catalyst to increase bio-H2 productivity by strain.