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Acetate as a carbon source for hydrogen production by photosynthetic bacteria
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Acetate as a carbon source for hydrogen production by photosynthetic bacteria

Maria J Barbosa, Jorge M. S Rocha, Johannes Tramper and René H Wijffels
Journal of biotechnology, Vol.85(1), pp.25-33
01/23/2001
DOI: 10.1016/S0168-1656(00)00368-0
PMID: 11164959
url
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/acetate-as-a-carbon-source-for-hydrogen-production-by-photosyntheView
Open Access

Abstract

Hydrogen is a clean energy alternative to fossil fuels. Photosynthetic bacteria produce hydrogen from organic compounds by an anaerobic light-dependent electron transfer process. In the present study hydrogen production by three photosynthetic bacterial strains (Rhodopseudomonas sp., Rhodopseudomonas palustris and a non-identified strain), from four different short-chain organic acids (lactate, malate, acetate and butyrate) was investigated. The effect of light intensity on hydrogen production was also studied by supplying two different light intensities, using acetate as the electron donor. Hydrogen production rates and light efficiencies were compared. Rhodopseudomonas sp. produced the highest volume of H2. This strain reached a maximum H2 production rate of 25 ml H2 l-1 h-1, under a light intensity of 680 μmol photons m-2 s-1, and a maximum light efficiency of 6.2% under a light intensity of 43 μmol photons m-2 s-1. Furthermore, a decrease in acetate concentration from 22 to 11 mM resulted in a decrease in the hydrogen evolved from 214 to 27 ml H2 per vessel. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Hydrogen is a clean energy alternative to fossil fuels. Photosynthetic bacteria produce hydrogen from organic compounds by an anaerobic light-dependent electron transfer process. In the present study hydrogen production by three photosynthetic bacterial strains (Rhodopseudomonas sp., Rhodopseudomonas palustris and a non-identified strain), from four different short-chain organic acids (lactate, malate, acetate and butyrate) was investigated. The effect of light intensity on hydrogen production was also studied by supplying two different light intensities, using acetate as the electron donor. Hydrogen production rates and light efficiencies were compared. Rhodopseudomonas sp. produced the highest volume of H2. This strain reached a maximum H2 production rate of 25 ml H2 l-1 h-1, under a light intensity of 680 μmol photons m-2 s-1, and a maximum light efficiency of 6.2% under a light intensity of 43 μmol photons m-2 s-1. Furthermore, a decrease in acetate concentration from 22 to 11 mM resulted in a decrease in the hydrogen evolved from 214 to 27 ml H2 per vessel.
Biotechnology Biofuel production Biological and medical sciences Energy Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects

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