Investigation of the photoheterotrophic hydrogen production of Rhodobacter sphaeroides KCTC 1434 using volatile fatty acids under argon and nitrogen headspace

Issue Date

6-2016

Abstract

In this study, the photo fermentative H2 production of Rhodobacter sphaeroides KCTC 1434 was investigated using acetate, propionate and butyrate under argon and nitrogen headspace gases. The highest H2 yield and Substrate Conversion Efficiency (SCE) were observed from butyrate (8.84 mol H2/mol butyrate consumed, 88.42% SCE) and propionate (6.10 mol H2/mol propionate consumed, 87.16% SCE) under Ar headspace. Utilization of acetate was associated with low H2 evolution, high biomass yield and high final pH, which suggest that acetate uptake by the strain involves a biosynthetic pathway that competes with H2 production. The use of N2in sparging resulted to a decreased H2 productivity in propionate (0.49 mol H2/mol propionate consumed, 7.01% SCE) and butyrate (1.22 mol H2/mol butyrate consumed, 1.04% SCE) and was accompanied with high biomass yield and radical pH increase in all acids. High H2generation had shown to improve acid consumption rate. The use of the three acids in a mixed substrate resulted to a drastic pH rise and lower H2 generation. This suggests that a more refined culture condition such as additional control of pH during fermentation must be kept to enhance the H2 productivity. Overall, the study provided a background on the H2 production using R. sphaeroides KCTC 1434 which might be a good co-culture candidate because of its high SCE on butyrate and propionate.

Source or Periodical Title

American Journal of Environmental Sciences

ISSN

1553-345X

Volume

12

Issue

6

Page

358-369

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

tables, graphs, diagram

Language

English

Subject

Biohydrogen production, Headspace gas, N -fixation 2, Photofermentation, Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Identifier

doi:10.3844/ajessp.2016.358.369.

Digital Copy

yes

Link to Full Text

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