초록
This study was devoted for H<SUB>2</SUB> production from rotten fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by three fermentation stages. A facultative anaerobe, Escherichia coli EGY was used in first stage to consume O<SUB>2</SUB> and maintain strict anaerobic conditions for a second stage dark fermentative H<SUB>2</SUB> production by the strictly anaerobic Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. Subsequently, a third stage photofermentation using Rhodobacter capsulatus DSM 1710 has been conducted for the H<SUB>2</SUB> production. The maximum total H<SUB>2</SUB> yield of the three stages (7.8 mol H<SUB>2</SUB> mol<SUP>-1</SUP> sucrose) was obtained when 5 g L<SUP>-1</SUP> of sucrose was supplemented to fermentor as rotten date fruits. A maximum estimated cumulative H<SUB>2</SUB> yield of the three stages (162 LH<SUB>2</SUB> kg<SUP>-1</SUP> fresh rotten dates) was estimated at the (5 g L<SUP>-1</SUP>) sucrose concentration. These results suggest that rotten dates can be efficiently used for commercial H<SUB>2</SUB> production. The described protocol did not require addition of a reducing agent or flashing with argon which both are expensive.