Ultrastructure of the fresh water cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis SPU 003 and its application for oxygen-free hydrogen production

Photoproduction of hydrogen has been studied as one of the ways to produce a clean, renewable energy source. Ultrastructure of the selected strain Ana baena variabilis SPU 003, a heterocystous cyanobacterium, has been done to understand the cell structure. The organism was found to be essentially a d ark hydrogen producer. While pH had no significant effect on hydrogen produ ction, optimum temperature was found to be 30 degreesC. Various sugars incr eased the production of hydrogen while the presence of various nitrogen sou rces inhibits the production. The production of hydrogen is highly sensitiv e to salinity and micronutrients. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiol ogical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.