Semi-continuous photo-fermentative H2 production by Rhodobacter sphaeroides: Effect of decanting volume ratio

In this study, a semi-continuous operation of photo-fermentative H2-producing reactor was attempted at various decanting volume ratios (DVR, decanting volume per day/total working volume, %), ranging 30–70%, using Rhodobacter sphaeroides KD131. H2 production was not efficient with showing low H2 yields of 0.2 and 0.5 mol H2/mol succinateadded at 30% and 40% DVR, respectively. The low performance ascribed to the fact that over 70% of substrate electrons were diverted towards cell growth under these conditions. Meanwhile, cell growth was limited at DVR ⩾ 50%; therefore, higher H2 yields (>2.0 mol H2/mol succinateadded) were observed. Both the highest H2 yield of 3.7 mol H2/mol succinateadded and production rate of 1494 mL H2/L-reactor/d were achieved at 60% DVR. The content of soluble microbial products (SMPs) was measured, which accounted for 3–15% of substrate electrons. It was found that the largest (65–75%) portion of SMPs comprised low molecular-weight (<3 kDa).