Comparative analysis of hydrogen-producing bacteria and its immobilized cells for characteristics of hydrogen production

A strain of hydrogen producing bacteria was immobilized by polyvinyl alcohol-boric acid method, with the addition of a small amount of calcium alginate. The immobilized cells were insensitive to the presence of traces of O₂. Moreover, the immobilized cells increased both the evolution rate and the yield of hydrogen production. Batch experiments with a medium containing 10 g/L glucose demonstrated the yields of hydrogen production by the immobilized and free cells were 2.14 mol/mol glucose and 1.69 mol/mol glucose, respectively. In continuous cultures at medium retention time of 2.0 h, the yield and the evolution rate of hydrogen production by the immobilized cells were 2.31 mol/mol glucose and 1435.4 ml/(L · h) respectively. However, at medium retention time of 6.0 h, the yield and the evolution rate of hydrogen production by free cells were only 1.75 mol/mol glucose and 362.9 ml/(L · h), respectively.