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Title: Hydrogen production by a Green Alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, in an alternating light/dark cycle

Journal Article · · Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States)

The evolution of H/sub 2/ in the dark period of a light/dark cycle by a green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, was studied with the aim of developing a two-stage biophotolysis system. The algal cells accumulated starch during the growth period in light. When these cells were incubated microaerobically in the dark, hydrogenase activity was induced without an appreciable lag time and thereby H/sub 2/ evolution was observed for several hours to more than 10 h, depending upon the amount of added O/sub 2/. The cells harvested in the midlogarithmic growth phase were the most efficient in production of H/sub 2/ in the dark. H/sub 2/ evolution was highly dependent on temperature, but rather insensitive to pH values from 5-9. Based on these observations, alternating production of O/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/ was demonstrated repeatedly in a 12-h light/dark cycle.

OSTI ID:
6067900
Journal Information:
Biotechnol. Bioeng.; (United States), Vol. XXIV:7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English