Microbial Hydrogen Production from Organic Resources

Abstract

In this review, it is mainly described that the recent progress on fermentative hydrogen production from various kinds of sugar and renewable organic resources using a facultative anaerobe, Enterobacter aerogenes HU-101. Firstly, the reason anaerobic bacteria must produce hydrogen is briefly reviewed. Then, methodology and experimental results for improvement of hydrogen productivity considering with energy metabolism of E. aerogenes and redox state of substrates are demonstrated. Finaly, as one example of hydrogen production from actual organic wastes, it is introduced that simultaneous production of hydrogen and ethanol by E. aerogenes from glycerol-containing wastes discharged from bio-diesel manufacturing process.