Flex matala biofilter dengan luas permukaan 365 m2/m3 (M365) dan 190 m2/m3 (M190) digunakan sebagai carrier bkteri dalam produksi biohidrogen menggunakan reaktor CSTR. Reaktor CSTR yang dilengkapi dengan biofilter (CSTR-PBF) didesain dan dioperasikan untuk memproduksi gas biohidrogen dengan bahan baku limbah pabrik minuman sebagai substrat pada konsentrasi 10 ? 30 g total glukosa/L dan waktu tinggal 8 jam ? 0,5 jam. Carrier atau biofilter dipasang pada bagian tengah fermentor (60 mm dari dasar fermentor) yang berfungsi untuk menghindari washout. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa konsentrasi substrat 15 ? 20 g/L memberikan yield dan Laju produksi gas biohidrogen (LPH) yang tinggi. Biofilter M365 memberikan kinerja produksi hidrogen yang lebih baik dibanding dengan biofilter M190. HRT 0,5 jam memberikan LPH yang paling tinggi, yakni 124,87 L H2/L/hari, namun yieldnya 1,17 mol H2/mol glukosa. Di sisi lain, kondisi yang memberikan yield tertinggi dicapai pada waktu tinggal 4 jam dengan LPH sebesar 13,74 L H2/L/hari dan yield sebesar 1,82 mol H2/mol glukosa. Kondisi operasi yang direkomendasikan adalah waktu tinggal 1 jam dan konsentrasi substrat 20 g glukosa/L dengan LPH 88,69 L H2/L/hari, konversi substrat, 91,85 % dan yield 1,42 mol H2/mol glukosa. Pada waktu tinggal yang rendah, yakni 1 jam dan 0,5 jam terdapat perbedaan distribusi konsentrasi biomassa pada bagian atas, tengah dan bawah reaktor. Produk cair terbesar adalah asam butirat dan asam asetat dengan rasio 1,41 mol asam butirat/mol asam asetat sampai dengan 5,66 mol asam butirat/mol asam asetat.

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A flex-matala packed biofilter with specific surface area M365 m2/m3 (M365) and 190 m2/m3 (M190) were used as a bacteria carrier in a Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) in this study. The continuous stirred tank reactor with packed biofilter (CSTR-PBF) was designed and operated under sugary wastewater substrate at concentration of 10 g total sugar/L ? 30 g total glukosa/L and hydraulic retention time (HRT) 8 h - 0.5 h to assess the biohydrogen producing ability. Biofilter was installed at 60 mm height from the bottom of bioreactor (middle of the bioreactor). The biofilter played a role in avoiding biomass washout. It was found that substrat concentration of 15 ? 20 g glucose/L lead the hydrogen production performa. Biofilter M365 produced the higher hydrogen production rate and yield. The condition producing the higher hydrogen production rate was at HRT 0.5 h with hydrogen production rate (HPR) of 124.87L H2/L/d, and yield of 1.17 mol H2/mol glucose. On the other hand, the condition producing the higher yield obtained when the fermentor operated at HRT 4 h, which hydrogen production rate and yield were 13.74 H2/L/d, and yield of 1.42 mol H2/mol glucose. Operation condition suggested for hydrogen production was HRT 1 h and 20 g total glucose/L which HPR, susbtrate conversion and yield were 88.69 H2/L/d; 91.85 % and 1.42 mol H2/mol glucose. There was difference distribution of biomassa on top, middle and bottom part of the bioreactor observed at HRT 1 h to 0,5 h. Butyric acid and acetic acid were the main liquid product that the ratio was 5.66 mol butyric/mol acetic. A flex packed biofilter used in CSTR system is a better approach to accumulate biomass concentration in bioreactor for enhancing biohydrogen production rate comparison with other kinds of bioreactor.