Bioreactor for mesophilic and/or thermophilic fermentation

Abstract

This invention relates to a bioreactor for producing high rates of hydrogen from plant biomass. It also relates to the rapid screening, selection and isolation of biofilm forming mesophilic and/or thermophilic bacteria or bacteria consortia that generate high levels of hydrogen from plant biomass or from soluble hydrolysates derived from the hydrolysis of cellulosic materials including hemicellulose. The reactor comprises a primary reactor vessel having a bed of hydrogen producing bacteria towards its base located within a secondary reactor vessel which functions as a hydrogen gas collector and as a clarifier and separator. The plant biomass may be one or a mixture of insoluble cellulosic material and a hydrolysate derived from hydrolysis of cellulosic material. In one embodiment the bed of the primary reactor vessel is fluidised by recycling hydrogen gas saturated plant biomass effluent from the secondary reactor vessel to the primary reactor vessel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.