Department of Microbiology, Kakatiya University, Warangal - 506 009 (TS), India.
Influence of different nitrogen sources on photoproduction of hydrogen by Rhodocyclus tenuis KU 017wasinvestigated. Among 16 different nitrogen sources investigated ammonium chloride, thiourea, L-tyrosine and L-glutamic acid were observed to be good sources of nitrogen as they induced maximum production of hydrogen. However, the optimum concentration for hydrogen production varied with the nitrogen source. Anaerobic light and aerobic dark conditions were found to be more favourable than anaerobic dark and aerobic light conditions. Immobilization of bacterial cells not only enhanced hydrogen production but enabled the cells to produce hydrogen over an extended period. Resting cells for hydrogen production required more lag period, while actively growing cells produced more hydrogen during early phase of growth.
Key Words: Rhodocyclus tenuis, Nitrogen sources, Photoproduction, Aerobic/anaerobic, Light/dark