Isolation and Characterization of Hydrogen Producing Bacterium

The hydrogen-producing bacterium was isolated from fresh water and identified as Enterobacter cloacae. The isolated was named Enterobacter cloacae YJ-1. In batch culture, The optimum cultivation temperature and pH of strain YJ-1 was 35℃ and 7.5, respectively. All of the added glucose was consumed completely during fermentation even though pH was not controlled. Amount of hydrogen produced on each condition of 2% glucose, 4% sucrose and 5% fructose was 950, 1000 and 948 mL/L, respectively and resulted in increasing hydrogen production approximately 2.5-times more than controlled condition. The maximum hydrogen production was obtained when 50 mM phosphate was added. In repeated-batch culture, hydrogen gas of 1920 mL/L was totally produced for 48. The maximum hydrogen was produced on the condition of 0.5% yeast extract, but the production amount was not changed on the condition of over 0.5%. Most of the organic acids produced during the fermentation were formic and acetic acid, and propionic acid was moiety also generated.

수소생산균 Enterobacter cloacae YJ -1의 분리 및 특성

수소를 생산하기 위하여 자연계로부터 분리된 균주는 Enterebacter cloacae로 동정되었으며 이 균주를 YJ-1으로 명명하였다. 수소발생량을 기준하여 이 균주의 최적 성장조건을 살펴본 바, 회분식 배양에서 $35^{\circ}C$, pH 7.5로 나타났다. 따라서 탄소원의 농도를 변화시킨 결과, 최대의 수소생산은 2% glucose, 4% sucrose, 5% fructose에서 각각 950 mL/L, 1000 mL/L, 948 mL/L을 얻어졌으며, 초기에 비해 2.5배 높은 생산량을 얻을 수 있었다. 유기산 축척에 따른 pH 저하를 막기 위해 완충제인 phosphate를 첨가한 결과, 50 mM에서 가장 높은 수소를 생산할 수 있었다. 반회분식 배양으로 50%의 새로운 배지를 8 hr 간격으로 치환하여 48시간동안 수행한 결과 1920 mL/L의 수소를 생산할 수 있었다. Yeast extract는 균체성장에 중요한 성분으로서 0.5%에서 최대의 수소를 생산할 수 있었다. 발효 중 생성된 유기산은 대부분 formic acid, acetic acid이고 적은 양의 propionic acid가 생성되었다.