Optimization of photosynthetic hydrogen yield from platinized photosystem I complexes using response surface methodology

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 36; no. 18; pp. 11684 - 11692
• Main Authors: Iwuchukwu, Ifeyinwa J., Iwuchukwu, Ernest, Le, Rosemary, Paquet, Caitlin, Sawhney, Rapinder, Bruce, Barry, Frymier, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Applied sciences; Cyanobacteria; Elongation; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Hydrogen; Hydrogen evolution; Hydrogen production; Mathematical models; Optimization; Photosystem I; Platinum; Process parameters; Response surface methodology; Thermosynechococcus elongatus; Wavelengths; Photosystem I; Response surface methodology; Hydrogen evolution; Cyanobacteria; Thermosynechococcus elongatus; Hydrogen; Platinum; Bacteria; Yield; Optimization; Hydrogen production
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.06.068

Light-dependent hydrogen production by platinized Photosystem I isolated from the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1 was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The process parameters studied included temperature, light intensity and wavelength, and platinum salt concentration. Application of RSM generated a model that agrees well with the data for H 2 yield ( R 2 = 0.99 and p < 0.001). Significant effects on the total H 2 yield were seen when the platinum salt concentration and temperature were varied during platinization. However, light intensity during platinization had a minimal effect on the total H 2 yield within the region studied. The values of the parameters used during the platinization that optimized the production of H 2 were light intensity of 240 μE m −2 s −1, platinum salt concentration of 636 μM and temperature of 31 °C. A subsequent validation experiment at the predicted conditions for optimal process yield gave the maximum H 2 yield measured in the study, which was 8.02 μmol H 2 per mg chlorophyll. ► We used RSM to optimize photosynthetic hydrogen yield from platinized Photosystem I complexes. ► We examined the effect of process variables on the rate of hydrogen production. ► Platinum concentration and temperature had a significant effect on H 2 yield. ► Data from the predicted optimum conditions validated the model predictions.