Photofermentative hydrogen production using Rhodobium marinum from bagasse and soy sauce wastewater

A marine photosynthetic bacterial consortium was studied for its capability of hydrogen production using treated soy sauce wastewater and bagasse as a sole carbon source. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles showed that the dominant bacterium in the bacterial consortium was Rhodobium marinum. The effects of treatments of soy sauce wastewater were tested for hydrogen production. The feedstock treatments included dilution, sterilization, neutralization and by adding sodium bicarbonate and yeast extract. The maximal cumulative hydrogen production was achieved up to 200 ± 67 mL H2 in the medium containing soy sauce and 41 ± 16 mL H2 from the hydrolyzed bagasse as substrate.

► The efforts of bioH2 production by marine photosynthetic bacteria are reported.
► The studies were conducted by soya sauce wastewater and bagasse substrates.
► The feedstock treatments included dilution, sterilization and neutralization etc.