The effects of synthesis gas feedstocks and oxygen perturbation on hydrogen production by Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius

The facultatively anaerobic thermophile Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius is able to produce hydrogen gas (H$_2$) through the water–gas shift (WGS) reaction. To date this process has been evaluated under controlled conditions, with gas feedstocks comprising carbon monoxide and variable proportions of air, nitrogen and hydrogen. Ultimately, an economically viable hydrogenogenic system would make use of industrial waste/synthesis gases that contain high levels of carbon monoxide, but which may also contain contaminants such as H$_2$, oxygen (O$_2$) and other impurities, which may be toxic to P. thermoglucosidasius.