Fermentative hydrogen production from acetate using Rhodobacter sphaeroides RV

The study of photosynthetic hydrogen production by using Rhodobacter sphaeroides RV from acetate was described. We investigated the effects of light source (fluorescent, halogen and tungsten lamps), light intensity (1200–6000 lux), inoculum quantity (OD660 0.212–OD660 1.082) and initial pH (4.0–10.0) on biohydrogen production. The results indicated that the hydrogen production for halogen and tungsten lamps was better than it for fluorescent lamp as light source. The best light intensity of hydrogen production was 3600 lux for tungsten lamp as light source. Inoculum quantity experiments indicated that the higher hydrogen production volume and hydrogen conversion rate were obtained at initial OD660 of 0.931. The effect of initial pH on hydrogen production indicated that the maximum hydrogen yield reached to 653.2 mmol H2/mol acetate at initial pH 7.0.