Biological conversion of synthesis gas. [Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum, chlorobium phaeobacteroides, and Rhodospirillum rubrum]

Technical Report · Mon Jan 06 04:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7239675· OSTI ID:7239675

The anaerobic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum has been chosen for catalysis of the biological water gas shift reaction. Two bacteria, Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum and Chlorobium phaeobacteroides, are being evaluated as candidates for H{sub 2}S conversion to elemental sulfur. Since these latter two organisms both grow and convert H{sub 2}S in batch culture using standard basal medium, the choice of a suitable bacterium must be made in consideration of specific growth and uptake rates. Produced elemental sulfur stability against further oxidation to sulfate, and minimal use of H{sub 2} as a producing agent must also be considered. The effects of temperature on the performance of R. rubrum were evaluated. It was found that the cell concentration was highest at temperatures of 25 and 30{degree}C, and that the specific uptake rate was highest at temperatures of 30, 32 and 34{degree}C. No growth was observed at 37{degree}C. Also, temperature did not affect the yield of H{sub 2} from CO. Thus, R. rubrum may be used for biological rates gas shift at any temperature between 30 and 34{degree}C, although growth is maximized at lower temperatures. Preliminary studies with C. thiosulfatophilum showed rapid utilization of H{sub 2}S from the gas and liquid phases with subsequent production of elemental sulfur. Elemental sulfur production interfered with cell concentrations measurements, although a technique has been developed to rectify this problem.

• Research Organization: Arkansas Univ., Fayetteville, AR (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG21-90MC27225
• OSTI ID: 7239675
• Report Number(s): DOE/MC/27225-T6; ON: DE92017674
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONVERSION
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
DESULFURIZATION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
INFORMATION
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PROGRESS REPORT
RHODOSPIRILLUM
SHIFT PROCESSES
SULFIDES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SYNTHESIS GAS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TEMPERATURE RANGE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
TESTING
WATER GAS PROCESSES