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Microaerobic hydrogen production by photosynthetic bacteria in a double‐phase photobioreactor
Author(s) -
Matsunaga Tadashi,
Hatano Tomoyuki,
Yamada Akiyo,
Matsumoto Mitsufumi
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0290(20000620)68:6<647::aid-bit7>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - photobioreactor , hydrogen production , light intensity , photosynthesis , hydrogen , chemistry , oxygen , botany , food science , biology , biochemistry , biomass (ecology) , ecology , organic chemistry , physics , optics
Abstract The rate of hydrogen production by the marine nonsulfur photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodovulum sp., increased with increasing light intensity. A light intensity of 1800 W/m 2 hydrogen production rate was achieved at the rate of 9.4 μmol/mg dry weight/h. The hydrogen production of this strain was enhanced by the addition of a small amount of oxygen (12 μmol O 2 /reactor). Intracellular ATP content was most efficiently accumulated under microaerobic, dark conditions. Hydrogen production rate by Rhodovulum sp. was investigated using a double‐phase photobioreactor consisting of light and dark compartments. This rate was compared with data obtained using a conventional photobioreactor. Rhodovulum sp. produced hydrogen at a rate of 0.38 ± 0.03 μmol/mg dry weight/h under microaerobic conditions using the double‐phase photobioreactor. The hydrogen production rate was four times greater under microaerobic conditions, as compared with anaerobic conditions using either type of photobioreactor. Hydrogen production using a double‐phase photobioreactor was demonstrated continuously at the same rate for 150 h. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 68: 647–651, 2000.