Effect of furfural, 5-HMF, vanillin and syringaldehyde on H2 fermentation is studied.
Phenolic compounds exhibit stronger inhibition on H2 fermentation than furans.
Vanillin gives the maximum decrease of hydrogen yield by 17%.
Inhibitor reduction from R-CHO to R-CH2OH decreases reducing power of H2 production.
Furfural degradation is the most efficient, due to the lowest molecular weight.