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SummaryA culture of R. rubrum cells apparently contaminated with K. pneumoniae were immobilized by entrapment in agar. This system was used as a model for hydrogen production by photometabolic means. Observed results indicated that the contaminant exerted a major influence on the observed results. This preparation, when immobilized and used in a specifically designed reactor with glucose substrate, showed operational half-lives of approximately lo00 hr. The feasibility of using this "mixed" culture for producing hydrogen from acid hydrolyzed cellulose and wood sawdust was also examined.

The immobilization of enzymes, cofactors and whole cells offers the potential of economical exploitation of biomaterial activity. Enzymes or cells can be immobilized by binding to carriers through adsorption or covalent linkages or by entrapment in a polymer matrix or microencapsulation. The development of immobilized biomaterial systems requires the involvement of biochemical, kinetics and reactor design principles. Examples of commercial scale applications of immobilized biomaterial systems are the production of a fructose-rich syrup from starch and the synthesis of L-amino acids by selective hydrolysis of N-acyl-D,Lamino acids.

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