Green energy from Rhodopseudomonas palustris grown at low to high irradiance values, under fed-batch operational conditions

Rhodopseudomonas palustris was grown under continuous irradiances of 36, 56, 75, 151, 320, 500, and 803 W m⁻², for a co-production of both bio-H₂ and biodiesel (lipids) using fed-batch conditions. The highest overall bio-H₂ produced [4.2 l(H₂) lculture ⁻¹] was achieved at 320 W m⁻², while the highest dry biomass (3.18 g l⁻¹) was attained at 500 W m⁻². Dry biomass contained between 22 and 39% lipid. The total energy conversion efficiency was at its highest (6.9%) at 36 W m⁻².