Comparison of two reactor concepts for anoxygenic H2 production by Rhodobacter capsulatus

In the contribution at hand two main concepts of photobioreactors are considered: the flat-panel reactor and the tubular reactor. Both reactors are investigated under outdoor conditions in Germany in the summer time for their applicability for H-2 production by means of purple non-sulphur bacteria Rhodobacter capsulatus. The experiments are performed as fed batch. The performance of a photobioreactor is evaluated in terms of H-2 productivity per IRS (illuminated reactor surface). It is demonstrated that both reactors could be operated stable for several weeks with comparable H-2 productivities. The mean hydrogen productivity for the panel and the tubular reactor is 3690 ml H-2/(m(IRS)(2) d) and 3350 ml H-2/(m(IRS)(2) d) respectively. While approximately 8 m(2) of the illuminated reactor surface of the panel reactor can be installed on 1 m(2) of ground space, the relation of the illuminated reactor surface to the ground area for the tubular reactor is approximately 1-1. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.