Patent ID: 6860996

Claim:
A method of generating hydrogen gas using a hydrogen-generating bacteria comprising a heat-treating step of treating organic waste or wastewater under anaerobic conditions at any of the pH and treatment temperatures of A-F of Table 1, wherein the treatment time is at least 10 minutes in A-C of Table 1, and the treatment time is at least 60 minutes in D-F of Table 1, wherein hydrogen-consuming, methane-producing bacteria contained in the organic waste or wastewater are selectively inactivated during the heat-treating step, and then culturing the treated organic waste or wastewater to generate hydrogen gas. TABLE 1 pH more than 5.7 more than 8.0 3.7 to 5.7 to 8.0 to 9.0 Treatment 68 to less A — — Temperature than 75 (° C.) 75 to less B D — than 85 85 to less C E F than 95.