Summary
Viable cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum were immobilized by entrapment in a planar agar matrix bounded by a microporous membrane filter and were tested for H2 photoproduction in synthetic waste water provided with malate and glutamate. Optimum H2 production was obtained at 15 klx for a C/N ratio of 7–8. Production rates as high as 565 mm3 H2 · h-1 per cubic centimetre of agar were recorded. The composite structures, however, suffered from high diffusion limitations which increased with the population of immobilized bacteria. The H2-evolving activity could be maintained over several months by periodically incubating the biocatalytic structures in a rich nutrient broth. No contamination of the nutrient broth due to leakage of photosynthetic organisms from the gel appeared during incubation of the structures.
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Planchard, A., Mignot, L., Jouenne, T. et al. Photoproduction of molecular hydrogen by Rhodospirillum rubrum immobilized in composite agar layer/microporous membrane structures. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 31, 49–54 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00252525
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00252525