A gram negative hydrogen producing facultative anaerobe was isolated and characterized as Enterobacter cloacae IIT-BT 08.
Hydrogen yields by using this microorganism varied from substrate to substrate (2.2 mol:mol glucose, 6 mol:mol of sucrose and
5.4 mol:mol cellobiose considering 1% w:v substrate in MY medium). The maximum rate of hydrogen production achieved was
at 36°C and initial pH 6.0. The maximum rate was 29.63 mmol:(g dry cell per h). The pH profiles of the fermentation broth under
aerobic and anaerobic conditions were monitored and found to differ from each other particularly beyond the pH of 4.8. About
28% of substrate energy were recovered in the form of hydrogen using sucrose as a substrate.