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. 1979 May;37(5):789–793. doi: 10.1128/aem.37.5.789-793.1979

Hydrogen Production by the Photosynthetic Bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum

Hans Zürrer 1, Reinhard Bachofen 1
PMCID: PMC243303  PMID: 16345375

Abstract

Continuous photosynthetic production of hydrogen by Rhodospirillum rubrum in batch cultures was observed up to 80 days with the hydrogen donor, pure lactate or lactic acid-containing wastes, supplied periodically. Hydrogen was produced at an average rate of 6 ml/h per g (dry weight) of cells with whey as a hydrogen donor. In continuous cultures with glutamate as a growth-limiting nitrogen source and lactate as a hydrogen donor, hydrogen was evolved at a rate of 20 ml/h per g (dry weight). The composition of the gas evolved remained practically constant (70 to 75% H2, 25 to 30% CO2). Photosynthetic bacteria processing specific organic wastes could be an advantage in large-scale production of hydrogen together with food protein of high value, compared to other biological systems.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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