Hydrogen production from glucose by immobilized growing cells of Clostridium butyricum

Clostridium butyricum was immobilized in a porous carrier (acetylcellulose filter) with agar. Addition of peptone to the reaction mixture increased the hydrogen productivity from glucose. The number of cells in the agaracetylcellulose increased during incubation in the medium containing glucose and peptone, and the immobilized growing cells converted 45% of the glucose to hydrogen. Riboflavin enhanced the hydrogen productivity and the lactate produced by the native cells decreased remarkably. Therefore, the immobilized whole cells incubated with riboflavin were employed for repeated hydrogen production in the medium containing glucose and peptone. The hydrogen productivity of the immobilized cells increased markedly after repeated use, and the immobilized cells produced hydrogen in stoichiometric amounts from glucose.