Enhancement of bio-hydrogen generation by spirulina via an electrochemical photo-bioreactor (EPBR)

Abstract The biological production of hydrogen by microalgae is considered as an advantageous process. However, its yields are sometimes limited. To go beyond this limit, the improvement of the H2 generation rate by Spirulina was studied via an electrochemical photo-bioreactor (EPBR). This EPBR led to hydrogen evolution rates of up to 27.49 and 13.37 mol of H2.d−1.m−3 for the anode and cathode chambers, respectively, under 0.3 V voltage and ~2.5 mA current. These results represent about a 4-fold increase compared to the H2 production rate recorded without the application of a voltage. This increase in bio-hydrogen production is correlated with a drop in the concentration of NADPH. The Electrochemical Sequential Batch Reactor (ESRB) provided a more interesting total production rate which was 2.65 m3 m−3 d−1, compared to the batch mode, which gave 1.2 m3 m−3.d−1. The results show, for the first time, the boosting effect of the voltage on the metabolism of H2 production by the Spirulina strain.