Electro-extractive fermentation for efficient biohydrogen production

► We show BioH2 from glucose by E. coli in 30-day extractive fermentations (EF). ► E. coli grew with air on minimal media then made H2 anaerobically without inducers. ► EF controls fermentation pH by selectively and efficiently removing organic acids. ► EF uncouples the fluid and biomass retention times with suspended cells. ► The eventual limitation for extractive biohydrogen fermentation is solventogenesis.