Re-evaluation of hydrogen productivity from acetate by some photosynthetic bacteria

In order to use photosynthetic bacteria for efficient hydrogen production after anaerobic hydrogen and acetate fermentation, hydrogen-producing activity from acetate by agar-immobilized photosynthetic bacteria was evaluated under light-illuminated conditions. Among the tested 5 strains, Rhodobacter sphaeroides RV gave similar rate of hydrogen production as the case of lactate, and the yield was as high as 2.65–2.81 mol of hydrogen per mol of acetate consumed. R. sphaeroides IL106 gave the highest yield of 3.03 mol of hydrogen per acetate when acetate concentration was low.