Abstract
We focused on hydrogen production by purple photosynthetic bacteria as a renewable energy source and development of an effective treatment method of the shochu wastewater. We aimed at the simultaneous execution of hydrogen production and shochu wastewater treatment by photosynthetic bacteria. Rodopsedomonas palustris CGA009 was grown in the culture with varying shochu wastewater concentration form 1.0% to 20%. Cell growth and evolved gas were observed in each culture. Maximum evolved gas volume of 0.261L/L-medium was observed in the culture containing 5.0% shochu wastewater. Fastest doubling time of 3.7h was observed in the culture containing 10% shochu wastewater. Hydrogen content in the evolved gas was about 60% in all cultures. Maximum removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 81.8% was observed in the culture containing 1.0% shochu wastewater. Total organic carbon (TOC) decreased to about 25% compared to initial value in shochu wastewater cultures.
