A new approach for sustained and efficient H2 photoproduction by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Abstract

Sustained H₂ photoproduction is demonstrated in green algae under a train of strong white light pulses interrupted by longer dark phases. The devised protocol relies on the presence of the [FeFe]-hydrogenase in algal chloroplasts, which is activated within a few seconds after the establishment of anaerobiosis. H₂ photoproduction proceeds for up to 3 days with the maximum rate occurring in the first 6 hours.