title: Desulfovibrio vulgaris Growth Coupled to Formate-Driven H2 Production.
abstract: Formate is recognized as a superior substrate for biological H2 production by several bacteria. However, the growth of a single organism coupled to this energetic pathway has not been shown in mesophilic conditions. In the present study, a bioreactor with gas sparging was used, where we observed for the first time that H2 production from formate can be coupled with growth of the model sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris in the absence of sulfate or a syntrophic partner. In these conditions, D. vulgaris had a maximum growth rate of 0.078 h(-1) and a doubling time of 9 h, and the ΔG of the reaction ranged between -21 and -18 kJ mol(-1). This is the first report of a single mesophilic organism that can grow while catalyzing the oxidation of formate to H2 and bicarbonate. Furthermore, high volumetric and specific H2 production rates (125 mL L(-1) h(-1) and 2500 mL gdcw(-1) h(-1)) were achieved in a new bioreactor designed and optimized for H2 production. This high H2 production demonstrates that the nonconventional H2-producing organism D. vulgaris is a good biocatalyst for converting formate to H2.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB), Universidade Nova de Lisboa , EAN 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB), Universidade Nova de Lisboa , EAN 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mourato
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB), Universidade Nova de Lisboa , EAN 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal.
authors.forename: Inês A C
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D016969:Desulfovibrio vulgaris / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005561:Formates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005561:Formates; D013431:Sulfates; C030544:formic acid; D006859:Hydrogen