Control of oxidative sulfur metabolism in Chlorobium

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6465733

Maka, A

The photosynthetic, anaerobic microorganism Chlorobium limicola forma sp. thiosulfatophilum is being investigated as a possible biocatalyst for the removal of acid gases (primarily H/sub 2/S) generated by the hydroprocessing of fossil fuels. The organism was grown in an anaerobic, fed-batch photobioreactor which was continuously supplied with N/sub 2/, CO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/S. The effect of light intensity, surface area of illuminated bioreactor, H/sub 2/S flow rate and various wavelength regions of light on oxidative sulfur metabolism by Chlorobium was examined. Light intensity, surface area of illuminated bioreactor, and H/sub 2/S flow rate regulated oxidative sulfur metabolism. The H/sub 2/S utilization rate increased with a corresponding increase in light intensity. The photoautotroph grew in any selected wavelength region with production of the various sulfur compounds, i.e., thiosulfate, sulfate, and sulfur. However, the rate of H/sub 2/S oxidation was wavelength dependent. The photosynthetic quantum efficiency (which is the molecules of sulfur (S/sup 0/) produced per photon utilized) was determined for this system. It is possible that the quantum efficiency can be used as a sufficiency factor for a photobioreactor. The sufficiency factor would be a unique characteristic of the reactor and demonstrate the relationship between light intensity and the rate of the light driven reaction. This sufficiency factor could be used for the determination of a light efficient photobioreactor.

• Research Organization: Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6465733
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BATCH CULTURE
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
KINETICS
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
REACTION KINETICS
SULFUR
SULFURIC ACID
SYNTHESIS