Application of light emitting diodes as a light source to a photosynthetic culture of Chlorobium thiosulfatophilum

Abstract

Economical light energy supply plays a key role in determining the success of industrial application of photosynthetic microorganisms. The bacteriochlorophyll a of C. thiosulfatophilum harvests the light at 760 nm, which oxidizes toxic H2S by photosynthesis. Light emitting diode(LED), which emits a maximum intensity at 710 nm and 60% of its maximum at 760 nm, was adopted as an alternative light source to inefficient incandescent light. With the array of the LEDs adjustable to the reactor wall 95% of the light energy was saved over the incandescent light source in comparable conditions.