Bioreactor system for dark fermentation and hydrogen production

• Subject Area: Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 584903709

The large-scale equipment upgrade application will specifically upgrade an existing research facility network at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences and develop it into an innovative research hub for carbon-neutral energy sources. The aim is to experimentally investigate and optimize integrated biotechnological processes for the material use of organic residues and the production of sustainable energy sources. The core of the project is the functional conversion of an existing biological methanation plant into a flexibly operable research facility for dark fermentation. In contrast to biological methanization, dark fermentation enables the direct biochemical extraction of hydrogen from organic substrates in the absence of light. This process represents a key technology for utilizing waste streams for energy in the early stages of material conversion. The upgrade includes structural modifications to the reactor and its peripherals, the integration of continuously operable conveyor and dosing systems, expanded sensor technology for high-resolution measurement of pH, temperature, and hydrogen content, and the modernization of the electrical and software-based process control system. An additional feature is the integration of sensor-based, model-based process control, which enables dynamic optimization of biotechnological processes. The upgraded plant enables both continuous and semi-automated long-term operation with a usable reactor volume of up to 800 liters. Hydrogen and CO₂-containing product gas streams as well as liquid fermentation residues are produced under variable operating conditions and analyzed at high resolution. The resulting fermentation residues can be used as broken-down substrates for downstream biogas and other biological processes. The facility is designed for interdisciplinary research projects in the fields of process engineering, energy technology, and biotechnology and is used approximately 90 percent for research and 10 percent for research-related teaching. The proposed upgrade will enable the sustainable continued use of existing research infrastructure while creating a modern, high-performance research environment for the further development of carbon-neutral energy sources.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Bioreaktorsystem zur Dunkelfermentation und Wasserstofferzeugung
• Instrumentation Group: 3520 Bakterien-Zuchtgeräte, Fermenter
• Applicant Institution: Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg
• Leader: Professor Dr.-Ing. Torsten Birth-Reichert