EVALUATION OF MASS-TRANSFER AND KINETIC-PARAMETERS FOR RHODOSPIRILLUM-RUBRUM IN A CONTINUOUS STIRRED-TANK REACTOR

The photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum has been evaluated for its ability to produce hydrogen from carbon monoxide and water in a continuous stirred tank reactor according to the water-gas shift rea ction. An assessment of mass-transfer parameters and reaction kinetics was made for this sparingly soluble substrate system. Experiments wer e conducted in a nonsteady-state fashion with continuous liquid and ga s flow, which allowed for separation of the mass-transfer and kinetic- limited regions. Based on the data obtained, mass-transfer coefficient s for the system were determined, and a mathematical expression for th e reaction kinetics was formulated. The results showed that the hydrog en production was inhibited by elevated levels of dissolved carbon mon oxide in the liquid.