Table 2.
Some approaches to increase photofermentation H productivity (Reviewed by Adessi et al., 2017)
| Approach/Rationale | Outcomes/comments | References |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Black box’ mathematical relationships between input and output streams Box‐behnken statistical design/methods | Permits multivariable analysis: measures cause and effect; hence can be empirical SCE (glycerol) > doubled (R.palustris) | Abo‐Hashesh et al. (2013), Show and Lee (2013) and Ghosh et al. (2012a,b,c) |
| Modelling metabolic fluxes | Guided interventions: success using lactate but not malate or acetate | Golomysova et al. (2010) and Hädicke et al. (2011) |
| Deletion of polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis pathway | Increased H2 yield (by 1.5‐fold c.f. wild type) | Kim et al. (2011) |
| Reducing pigment concentration | Allows greater light penetrationa | Ma et al. (2012) |
| Use of quantum dots to ‘upgrade’ light | Doubled photosynthetic efficiency | M.D. Redwood, unpublishedb |
SCE, substrate conversion efficiency.
a
27% increase in H2 yield was obtained.
b
Collaborative study with Photon Science Institute, University of Manchester: M.D. Redwood, L.E. Macaskie and D.J. Binks, unpublished work. But note: current commercial quantum dots would be grossly uneconomic at scale.