Biohydrogen production via integrated sequential fermentation using magnetite nanoparticles treated crude enzyme to hydrolyze sugarcane bagasse

This study presents a potential approach to enhance integrated sequential biohydrogen production from waste biomass using magnetite nanoparticle (Fe₃O₄ NPs) which is synthesized through waste seeds of Syzygium cumini. Consequences of 0.5% Fe₃O₄ NPs have been investigated on the thermal and pH stability of fungal crude cellulase. It is noticed that Fe₃O₄ NPs treated enzyme and control exhibits 100% activity in the temperature range of 45–60 °C and 45–55 °C, respectively. Moreover, Fe₃O₄ NPs treated enzyme showed extended thermal stability in the temperature range of 50–60 °C up to 12 h. Beside this, Fe₃O₄ NPs treated enzyme possesses 100% stability in the pH range of 5.0–7.0 whereas control exhibited only at pH 6.0. Enzymatic hydrolysis via Fe₃O₄ NPs treated enzyme has been employed which produces ∼68.0 g/L reducing sugars from sugarcane bagasse. Subsequently, sugar hydrolyzate has been utilized as substrate in the sequential integrated fermentation that produces ∼3427.0 mL/L cumulative hydrogen after 408 h. This approach may have potential for the pilot scale production of biohydrogen from waste biomass at low-cost in an eco-friendly manner.