Effect of partial shading on photoproduction of hydrogen by Chlorella

The photoproduction of hydrogen by the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa was studied in 650-ml bubble columns made of glass with 7 cm diameter. Hydrogen was produced by adding sodium dithionite as an oxygen scavenger directly to an algal suspension. When a part of the wall of the bubble column was shaded with a sheet of plastic film impervious to light, the production rate and total volume of hydrogen increased as compared to those in the columns without partial shading. This relationship between the hydrogen photoevolution rate and the proportion of lighted region is contrary to normal photochemical reactions. This phenomenon is considered to be related to the regulation by light of the activity of the enzymes and/or the photosynthetic electron transport systems, which was examined by measuring fluorescence induction curves of dark-adapted Chlorella cells and also the distribution of light intensity within the bubble column bioreactors.