Hydrogen production by a marine photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodovulum sulfidophilum P5, isolated from a shrimp pond

A new hydrogen-producing photosynthetic bacterium, designated as Rhodovulum sulfidophilum P5, was enriched and isolated from the sludge of a marine shrimp cultivation farm. During fermentation, hydrogen was mainly produced in the late exponential and stationary phases. The optimum culture conditions of strain P5 for hydrogen production were NaCl concentration of 20 g/L, initial pH of 8, temperature of 30 °C, and light intensity of 100 μmol photons/m2 s. The maximum hydrogen yield and rate were 2.56 ± 0.18 mol/mol acetate and 19.4 ± 1.6 mL/L h, respectively. Under optimum culture conditions, the hydrogen conversion efficiencies of P5 from acetate, propionate, and butyrate were (64.62 ± 5.05)%, (17.95 ± 0.72)%, and (41.83 ± 2.68)%, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that this strain has a high salt tolerance and the potential to be used for biohydrogen production and biological treatment of marine organic wastewater.

► A new photosynthetic bacterium was isolated from a marine shrimp cultivation farm.
► It was identified as Rhodovulum sulfidophilum P5.
► The hydrogen was mainly produced in the late exponential and stationary phase.
► Maximum H2 yield was obtained at 20 g/l NaCl, initial pH 8, 30 °C, and 100 μmol/m2 s.
► H2 conversion efficiency was acetate 64.62%, propionate 17.95%, and butyrate 41.83%.