Copper Nanoparticle Inhibition of Fermentative Hydrogen Yield by Enterobacter cloacae: Nonlinear Model Discrimination Identifies a Sharp Wang-Type Threshold
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54987/jebat.v9i1.208Keywords:
Biohydrogen, Copper nanoparticles, Enterobacter cloacae, Inhibition kinetics, Wang modelAbstract
Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) may enhance anaerobic bioprocesses at trace concentrations but suppress microbial metabolism when exposure exceeds cellular tolerance. This study re-analysed published hydrogen-yield data for Enterobacter cloacae exposed to 0-12.5 mg/L phytogenic CuNPs and compared seven nonlinear inhibition models using goodness-of-fit, information-theoretic, predictive-bias, and multi-criteria indices. Hydrogen yield remained near 26-29 mol H2/mol glucose through 7.5 mg/L, then fell to approximately 12 and 5 mol H2/mol glucose at 10 and 12.5 mg/L, respectively. The Wang model described this abrupt transition most effectively (R2=0.99; adjustedR2=0.98; RMSE=1.26; bias factor=0.97; accuracy factor=1.07) and ranked first by Multiobjective Optimization by Ratio Analysis (MOORA score=0.82). Its estimated maximum yield was 28.690 mol H2/mol glucose (95% CI: 26.336-31.044), the characteristic inhibitory concentration KC was 9.686 mg/L (8.969-10.403), and the response-shape exponent m was 7.157 (3.699-10.614). The Shukor model ranked second (MOORA score=0.24; adjustedR2=0.89; RMSE=2.75). These results reveal a steep concentration threshold rather than gradual proportional inhibition. For process control, CuNP exposure should remain well below the estimated transition region, while validation with independent datasets, dissolved-copper measurements, nanoparticle characterization, and uncertainty-aware dose-response experiments is required before scale-up under realistic reactor operating conditions.
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