TY - JOUR
T1 - Maximizing the Hydrogen Photoproduction Yields in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Cultures: The Effect of the H2 Partial Pressure
AU - Kosourov, Sergey N.
AU - Batyrova, Khorcheska A.
AU - Petushkova, Ekaterina P.
AU - Tsygankov, Anatoly A.
AU - Ghirardi, Maria L.
AU - Seibert, Michael
PY - 2012/5
Y1 - 2012/5
N2 - Photoproduction of H 2 gas has been examined in sulfur/phosphorus-deprived Chalmydomonas reinhardtii cultures, placed in photobioreactors (PhBRs) with different gas phase to liquid phase ratios (V g.p./V l.p.). The results demonstrate that an increase in the ratio stimulates H 2 photoproduction activity in both algal suspension cultures and in algae entrapped in thin alginate films. In suspension cultures, a 4× increase (from ∼0.5 to ∼2) in V g.p./V l.p results in a 2× increase (from 10.8 to 23.1 mmol l -1 or 264-565 ml l -1) in the total yield of H 2 gas. Remarkably, 565 ml of H 2 gas per liter of the suspension culture is the highest yield ever reported for a wild-type strain in a time period of less than 190 h. In immobilized algae, where diffusion of H 2 from the medium to the PhBR gas phase is not affected by mixing, the maximum rate and yield of H 2 photoproduction occur in PhBRs with V g.p./V l.p above 7 or in a PhBR with smaller headspace, if the H 2 is effectively removed from the medium by continuous flushing of the headspace with argon. These experiments in combination with studies of the direct inhibitory effect of high H 2 concentrations in the PhBR headspace on H 2 photoproduction activity in algal cultures clearly show that H 2 photoproduction in algae depends significantly on the partial pressure of H 2 (not O 2 as previously thought) in the PhBR gas phase.
AB - Photoproduction of H 2 gas has been examined in sulfur/phosphorus-deprived Chalmydomonas reinhardtii cultures, placed in photobioreactors (PhBRs) with different gas phase to liquid phase ratios (V g.p./V l.p.). The results demonstrate that an increase in the ratio stimulates H 2 photoproduction activity in both algal suspension cultures and in algae entrapped in thin alginate films. In suspension cultures, a 4× increase (from ∼0.5 to ∼2) in V g.p./V l.p results in a 2× increase (from 10.8 to 23.1 mmol l -1 or 264-565 ml l -1) in the total yield of H 2 gas. Remarkably, 565 ml of H 2 gas per liter of the suspension culture is the highest yield ever reported for a wild-type strain in a time period of less than 190 h. In immobilized algae, where diffusion of H 2 from the medium to the PhBR gas phase is not affected by mixing, the maximum rate and yield of H 2 photoproduction occur in PhBRs with V g.p./V l.p above 7 or in a PhBR with smaller headspace, if the H 2 is effectively removed from the medium by continuous flushing of the headspace with argon. These experiments in combination with studies of the direct inhibitory effect of high H 2 concentrations in the PhBR headspace on H 2 photoproduction activity in algal cultures clearly show that H 2 photoproduction in algae depends significantly on the partial pressure of H 2 (not O 2 as previously thought) in the PhBR gas phase.
KW - Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
KW - Green algae
KW - Hydrogen photoproduction
KW - Partial pressure
KW - Sulfur and phosphorus deprivation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860385522&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.01.082
DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.01.082
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84860385522
SN - 0360-3199
VL - 37
SP - 8850
EP - 8858
JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
IS - 10
ER -
