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Effect of Light/Dark Regimens on Hydrogen Production by Tetraselmis subcordiformis Coupled with an Alkaline Fuel Cell System

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology volume 183, pages 1295–1303 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

To improve the photoproduction of hydrogen (H2) by a green algae-based system, the effect of light/dark regimens on H2 photoproduction regulated by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) was investigated. A fuel cell was integrated into a photobioreactor to allow online monitoring of the H2 evolution rate and decrease potential H2 feedback inhibition by consuming the generated H2 in situ. During the first 15 h of H2 evolution, the system was subjected to dark treatment after initial light illumination (L/D = 6/9 h, 9/6 h, and 12/3 h). After the dark period, all systems were again exposed to light illumination until H2 evolution stopped. Two peaks were observed in the H2 evolution rate under all three light/dark regimens. Additionally, a high H2 yield of 126 ± 10 mL L−1 was achieved using a light/dark regimen of L 9 h/D 6 h/L until H2 production ceased, which was 1.6 times higher than that obtained under continuous illumination. H2 production was accompanied by some physiological and morphological changes in the cells. The results indicated that light/dark regimens improved the duration and yield of H2 photoproduction by the CCCP-regulated process of Tetraselmis subcordiformis.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50908028), the General Scientific Research Project of Liaoning Provincial Department of Education (No. L2015091), and the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (No. 2015A030313217).

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Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian, 116028, China

    Zhen Guo, Ying Li & Haiyan Guo

  2. Marine Bioproducts Engineering Group, Dalian Institute of Chemical and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China

    Zhen Guo

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  1. Zhen Guo
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  2. Ying Li
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  3. Haiyan Guo
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Correspondence to Zhen Guo.

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Guo, Z., Li, Y. & Guo, H. Effect of Light/Dark Regimens on Hydrogen Production by Tetraselmis subcordiformis Coupled with an Alkaline Fuel Cell System. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 183, 1295–1303 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2498-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2498-0

Keywords

  • Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)
  • Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP)
  • Hydrogen production
  • Light/dark regimens
  • Tetraselmis subcordiformis