Impacts of short-term temperature fluctuations on biohydrogen production and resilience of thermophilic microbial communities

Anaerobic microflora enriched for dark fermentative H₂ production from a mixture of glucose and xylose was used in batch cultivations to determine the effects of sudden short-term temperature fluctuations on H₂ yield and microbial community composition. Batch cultures initially cultivated at 55 °C (control) were subjected to downward (from 55 °C to 35 °C or 45 °C) or upward (from 55 °C to 65 °C or 75 °C) temperature shifts for 48 h after which, each culture was transferred to a fresh medium and cultivated again at 55 °C for two consecutive batch cycles. The average H₂ yield obtained during the first cultivation at 55 °C was 2.1 ± 0.14 mol H₂ mol⁻¹ hexose equivalent. During the temperature shifts, the obtained H₂ yields were 1.8 ± 0.15, 1.6 ± 0.27 and 1.9 ± 0.00 mol H₂ mol⁻¹ hexose equivalent at 35 °C, 45 °C and 65 °C, respectively, while no metabolic activity was observed at 75 °C. The sugars were completely utilized during the 48 h temperature shift to 35 °C but not at 65 °C and 45 °C. At the end of the second cycle after the different temperature shifts, the H₂ yield obtained was 96.5, 91.6, 79.9 and 54.1% (second cycle after temperature shift to 35 °C, 45 °C, 65 °C and 75 °C, respectively) when compared to the average H₂ yield produced in the control at 55 °C. Characterization of the microbial communities present in the control culture at 55 °C showed the predominance of Thermoanaerobacteriales, Clostridiales and Bacilliales. The microbial community composition differed based on the fluctuation temperature with Thermoanaerobacteriales being most dominant during the upward temperature fluctuations and Clostridiales being the most dominant during the downward temperature fluctuations.