Enhanced hydrogen production by coupled system of Halobacterium halobium and chloroplast after entrapment within reverse micelles

Abstract

Reverse micelles were used for the enhanced rate of photoproduction of hydrogen using the coupled system of Halobacterium halobium and chloroplasts organelles. Different combinations of organic solvents and surfactants were used for generating reverse micelles. A several fold enhancement in the rate of H2 production was observed when the coupled system was entrapped within reverse micelles as compared to the aqueous suspension where no detectable H2 was produced. The coupled system immobilized in reverse micelles formed by sodium lauryl sulfate and carbontetrachloride yielded maximum rate of H2 evolution. The optimum temperature for such hydrogen production was 40 °C using light of 520-570 nm wavelength and 100 lux intensity.