Augmentation of H < inf > 2 < /inf > photoproduction in Rhodopseudomonas palustris by N-heterocyclic aromatic compounds

Abstract

Increases of 23- (5.6 mmol acetylene reduced mg dry wt-1) and 16- (4 mmol acetylene reduced mg dry wt-1) fold in nitrogenase activity and 12- (671 μ1 H2 mg dry wt-1 h-1) and 6- (349 μ1 mg dry wt-1 h-1) fold in H2 photoproduction in Rhodopseudomonas palustris JA1 over 24 h were achieved with pyrazine 2-carboxylate (3 mM) and 3-picoline (3 mM), respectively, and were higher than earlier reports of enhancement (1.5 to 5- fold) in biological H2 production using various alternative methods.