Effect of magnetic field intensity on hydrogen production by anaerobic fermentation of kitchen waste combined with excess sludge

In this study, the effect of magnetic field intensity (MFI) on anaerobic biohydrogen was investigated using excess sludge as inoculum and simulated kitchen waste as substrate, at 37 ± 1 °C. The effect mechanism of static magnetic fields (SMF) was elucidated by analysis of metabolites, key enzyme, and electron transfer system. The results showed that the biohydrogen production could be enhanced with MFI of 10∼100 mT and 80 mT was optimum. The maximum hydrogen production rates and cumulative hydrogen production increased 16 % and 9 % at the 80 mT SMF, respectively. Moreover, the reduced coenzyme I/coenzyme I balance, and activity of cytochrome C could be improved by SMF to accelerate the rate of electron transfer, which increased the synthesis and release of α-amylase, pyruvate kinase, reduced coenzyme I, and ferredoxin reductase. It was inferred that the enhancement in biohydrogen production was mainly achieved by improving hydrolysis and pyruvate decarboxylation pathways.