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Bioconversion of synthesis gas to hydrogen using a light-dependent photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum

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Abstract

Biological hydrogen production from synthesis gas was carried out in batch culture. The phototrophic anaerobic bacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum was used to oxidize CO and water to CO2 and hydrogen. The bacteria were grown under anaerobic conditions in liquid medium; also acetate was used as carbon source in presence of synthesis gas. Biological hydrogen production was catalysed by R. rubrum via the water–gas shift reaction. A light-dependent cell growth modelled with a desired rate of hydrogen production and CO uptake was determined. The effect of light intensity on microbial cell growth was also studied at 500, 1,000 and 1,500 m.cd. A complete conversion of CO to hydrogen and maximum light efficiency were obtained with an acetate concentration of 1 g/l and light intensity of 500 m.cd. Utilization of the carbon monoxide from the gas phase was often considered as a mass transfer limited process, which needed to diffuse through the gas–liquid interface and then further diffuse into liquid medium prior to reaction. The results from this study showed that maximum cell propagation and hydrogen production were achieved with a limited light intensity of 1,000 m.cd. It was also found that high-light intensity may interfere with cell metabolism. In low-light intensity and substrate concentration, no inhibition was observed, however at extreme conditions, non-competitive inhibition was identified. The adverse effect of high-light intensity was shown at 5,000 m.cd, where the CO conversion drastically dropped to as low as 21%. Maximum CO conversion of 98% and maximum yield of 86% with an acetate concentration of 1.5 g/l and a light intensity of 1,000 m.cd were achieved.

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Abbreviations

A :

Irradiated area (m2)

\( C_{{\text{T}}_0 } \) :

Initial total moles of gas (mmol)

C Ac, (t=0) :

Initial acetate concentration (g/l)

C CO :

Moles of CO (mmol)

C CO,0 :

Initial moles of CO (mmol)

\(C_{{\text{H}}_2 } \) :

Moles of hydrogen (mmol)

\( C_{{\text{H}}_{2,0} } \) :

Initial moles of hydrogen (mmol)

I :

Light intensity [m.cd (lux)]

k CO :

First-order rate constant of CO (h−1)

k Ac :

First-order rate constant of acetate (h−1)

K I :

Monod constant based on light intensity (m.cd)

\( k_{{\text{H}}_2 } \) :

Rate constant of hydrogen (mmol−1/h−1)

m.cd :

Meter-candela

nCO(t=0) :

Initial moles of CO (mmol)

\( n_{{\text{H}}_2 (t = 0)} \) :

Initial moles of H2 (mmol)

\( n_{{\text{T}}_0 } \) :

Total moles (mmol)

t :

Time (h)

x 0 :

Cell dry weight (g/l)

x m :

Maximum cell dry weight (g/l)

X CO :

CO conversion (%)

\( Y_{{\text{H}}_2 {\text{/CO}}} \) :

Yield of hydrogen based on CO

μ :

Specific growth rate (h−1)

μ m :

Maximum specific growth rate (h−1)

μ mI :

Maximum specific growth rate based on light intensity (h−1)

η L :

Light efficiency (%)

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Acknowledgements

The present research was made possible through an IRPA grant No. 03-02-05-9016, sponsored by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MOSTI), Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The authors wish to thank RCMO panels, Universiti Sains Malaysia and MOSTI for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Noshirvani Institute of Technology, University of Mazandaran, Babol, Iran

    G. D. Najafpour

  2. Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University (TMU), Nour, Mazandaran, Iran

    H. Younesi

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  1. G. D. Najafpour
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  2. H. Younesi
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Correspondence to G. D. Najafpour.

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Najafpour, G.D., Younesi, H. Bioconversion of synthesis gas to hydrogen using a light-dependent photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 23, 275–284 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-006-9225-2

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