To study the structure of microbial communities in the biological hydrogen produc-tion reactor and determine the ecological function of hydrogen producing bacteria,anaerobic sludge was obtained from the continuous stirred tank reactor(CSTR)in different periods of time,and the diversity and dynamics of microbial communities were investigated by denaturing gra-dient gel electrophoresis(DGGE).The results of DGGE demonstrated that an obvious shift of microbial population happened from the beginning of star-up to the 28th day,and the ethanol type fermentation was established.After 28 days the structure of microbial community became stable,and the climax community was formed.Comparative analysis of 16S rDNA sequences from reamplifying and sequencing the prominent bands indicated that the dominant population belonged to low G+C Gram-positive bacteria(Clostridium sp.and Ethanologenbacterium sp.),β-proteobacteria(Acidovorax sp.),γ-proteobacteria(Kluyvera sp.),Bacteroides(uncultured bacte-rium SJA-168),and Spirochaetes(uncultured eubacterium E1-K13),respectively.The hydrogen production rate increased obviously with the increase of Ethanologenbacterium sp.,Clostridium sp.and uncultured Spirochaetes after 21 days,meanwhile the succession of ethanol type fer-mentation was formed.Throughout the succession the microbial diversity increased however it decreased after 21 days.Some types of Clostridium sp.Acidovorax sp.,Kluyvera sp.,and Bac-teroides were dominant populations during all periods of time.These special populations were essential for the construction of climax community.Hydrogen production efficiency was de-pendent on both hydrogen producing bacteria and other populations.It implied that the co-metabolism of microbial community played a great role of biohydrogen production in the reactors.
A method based on PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene (rDNA)-23S rDNA intergenic spacer regions (ISR) was developed for the identification of species within the novel group hydrogen-producing anaerobes. The sizes of the PCR products varied from 1264 to 398 bp. Strain of isolate Rennanqilyf 3 was characterized as having products of 1262,398,638,437 and 436 bp. The isolate Rennanqilyf 1 had product of 1264 bp. The isolate Rennanqilyf 13 had products of 1261,579 and 485 bp. Of the 3 species of the novel group hydrogen-producing anaerobes examined, no one was indistinguishable. Two environmental isolates were identified as hydrogen-producing bacteria, which were new species in present taxon. Rennanqilyf 3 could not be associated with any Clostridium sp. studied. Rennanqilyf 1 could be classified into Clostridium genus. The combination between 16S rDNA equencing and length polymorphisms of IRS in 16S-23S rDNA is a better method for determining species of the hydrogen-producing bacteria.
The objective of this work is to investigate the fermentation capacity and metabolic characteristics of a novel strain of bacteria B49 isolated from anaerobic activated sludge. The examination was conducted in batch culture at 35 ℃. The results showed that the carbon flow gave priority to the production of ethanol, and yield of ethanol is always greater than that of acetic acid. The hydrogen and ethanol occurred simultaneously. The exponential phase of the B49's cell growth was from 12 to 22 h. Evolution of hydrogen appeared to start after the exponential phase of cell growth and reach maximum production at the early stationary phase. The rate of hydrogen production reached a maximum of 16.8 mL/h, and the percentage of hydrogen gas in the headspace of serum bottle obtained a maximum of 41 % at 22 h. The B49 was able to grow using molasses as substrate for cell growth. When the molasses was used as substrate, maximum yield of hydrogen was obtained 2460 mL/L culture at 2 % (V/V) of molasses. The hydrogen yield was increased to 3060 mL/L culture after addition of 0.5 g/L of yeast extract in the molasses medium and the yield of hydrogen was increased by 24.4%.
