Seawater-based hydrogen production by immobilized marine photosynthetic bacteria

Abstract

The marine photosynthetic bacteria Rhodopseudomonas sp. Miami PBE 2271 were immobilized on an agarose coated polyster film with agar. Hydrogen was photoproduced at the rate as high as 180 ..mu..mol/mg B Chl/h, or 445 mL/g dry cell/h. Photoproduction of hydrogen of immobilized cells were markedly protected from the inhibitory effect of oxygen and nitrogen. Immobilized cells exhibit markedly wider salt tolerance (5 to 100% salinity) than aqueous cell suspension. Immobilized cells continuously photoproduce hydrogen at the same rate over a 10-day period. Hydrogen photoproduction capability did not decrease for more than 90 days when immobilized cells were stored in the seawater. 7 figures, 1 table.