Abstract
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a useful by-product of hydrogen production using photo-synthetic bacteria. This current study was aimed at understanding the effect of different carbon substrates and nitrogen availability on the levels of PHB accumulation and H2 evolution by Rhodobacter sphaeroides strain RV. Media containing acetate, lactate, and pyruvate as carbon sources and ammonium or glutamate as nitrogen sources were used, as well as nitrogen-free media. The highest levels of PHB were observed in the cells grown on ammonium and acetate (35–38% of dry cells), while those in the cells grown on other carbon substrates were low and/or stable. PHB accumulation under nitrogen-deprived conditions was observed on acetate (>38–41%), lactate (∼12–25%), and to a lesser extent, on pyruvate (∼15%). Hydrogen evolution by the culture was observed on lactate and, to a lesser extent, on pyruvate under nitrogen-deprived conditions and when cells were grown on glutamate. PHB levels, as well as H2 evolution, were lower when cells were grown on carbon substrates with glutamate as the sole nitrogen source. The data presented indicate the possibility of controlling the bacterial cultivation process, whichever final product, PHB or H2, is preferred.
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© 1998 Plenum Press, New York
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Khatipov, E., Miyake, M., Miyake, J., Asada, Y. (1998). Polyhydroxybutyrate Accumulation and Hydrogen Evolution by Rhodobacter sphaeroides as a Function of Nitrogen Availability. In: Zaborsky, O.R., Benemann, J.R., Matsunaga, T., Miyake, J., San Pietro, A. (eds) BioHydrogen. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-35132-2_20
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-35132-2_20
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