Hydrogen production by immobilized cells—II. H2-photoevolution and waste-water treatment by agar-entrapped cells of Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Rhodospirillum molischianum

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 7; no. 9; pp. 725 - 728
• Main Authors: Vincenzini, M., Materassi, R., Tredici, M.R., Florenzano, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.1982
• ISSN: 0360-3199
• DOI: 10.1016/0360-3199(82)90021-0

The photoproduction of molecular hydrogen by agar-entrapped cells of Rhodopseudomonas palurstris and Rhodospirillum molischianum from sugar refinery wastes and straw paper mill effluents as electron donors has been investigated. On average, more than 30 percent of the initial chemical oxygen demand of the wastes was converted into H2. Hence the process attains a partial reclamation of the effluents. Under the experimental conditions used, molecular hydrogen was produced for over a month at a rate ranging from 50 to 139 microliters of H2/mg of cells (dry wt) per h, depending on the organism and on the substrate. The amount of hydrogen evolved from 1 liter of straw paper mill effluent surpassed 2 liters.