Improvement of biohydrogen production under decreased partial pressure of H2 by Enterobacter cloacae.

When the partial pressure of H(2) was decreased by lowering the total pressure in the headspace of the reactor in a batch fermentation process from 760 mm Hg to 380 mm Hg containing Enterobacter cloacae, the molar yield of H(2) increased from 1.9 mol to 3.9 mol H(2)/mol glucose. The maximum production rate was 0.017 mmol H(2)/h l at 380 mm Hg. The lag period as well as total batch time of H(2) production decreased using a decreased partial pressure.