title: Microaerobic hydrogen production by photosynthetic bacteria in a double-phase photobioreactor.
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 micromol/mg dry weight/h. The hydrogen production of this strain was enhanced by the addition of a small amount of oxygen (12 micromol 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 micromol/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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan. tmatsuna@cc.tuat.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hatano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light
chemical_list: D006859:Hydrogen; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate