Modular IoT-enabled photobioreactor for biohydrogen production from sulfide waste streams - ON-1186

Project type: Innovation
Desired discipline(s): Engineering - chemical / biological, Engineering, Engineering - petrochemical, Microbiology / Immunology, Life Sciences
Company: Purple Hydrogen Corp.
Project Length: 4 to 6 months
Preferred start date: 05/01/2026
Language requirement: English
Location(s): Toronto, ON, Canada
No. of positions: 1 - 2
Desired education level: PhD
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

Purple Hydrogen Corp. is a Canadian deep-tech clean energy company developing a biological solution to two of the energy sector's most pressing challenges: hydrogen sulfide waste management and clean hydrogen production.

Our technology uses Purple Sulfur Bacteria, naturally occurring anaerobic microorganisms, in a proprietary photobioreactor system that converts hydrogen sulfide, a toxic and costly byproduct of natural gas processing and agricultural waste streams, directly into clean hydrogen gas. Where conventional H2S management relies on
energy-intensive chemical scrubbing that generates secondary waste and recovers nothing, our process is biological, modular, and produces a valuable fuel as its output.

At the core of our process is induced anaerobic photosynthesis. Under controlled light and oxygen-free conditions, Purple Sulfur Bacteria oxidize hydrogen sulfide using light energy, releasing hydrogen gas as a direct byproduct. The result is a continuous, low-carbon hydrogen stream that can be captured, purified, and used as a clean fuel or industrial feedstock.

We recently completed a proof-of-concept study at CREMCo Labs in Mississauga, Ontario, validating hydrogen production across three bacterial strains in a custom Stirred Tank Photobioreactor. We are now looking to build a modular, IoT-enabled photobioreactor designed for direct deployment into industrial and agricultural facilities.

Describe the project.: 

Purple Hydrogen Corp. is developing a modular, IoT-enabled photobioreactor system that uses Purple Sulfur Bacteria (PSB) to convert hydrogen sulfide waste into clean, low-carbon hydrogen gas through induced anaerobic photosynthesis. The goal of this project is to design, build, and validate a fully functional pilot-scale bioreactor ready for deployment in industrial and agricultural facilities.

The bioreactor system integrates several critical engineering components working in concert. Temperature control systems will maintain optimal growth conditions for PSB strains (25–35°C), as thermal stability is essential for sustained bacterial activity and consistent hydrogen yields. An IoT-based sensor network will continuously monitor dissolved gas concentrations, pH, temperature, and light intensity in real time, enabling automated process adjustments and remote monitoring. Critically, the system will incorporate programmable nitrogen and inert gas injection to periodically purge the headspace and create the precise anaerobic, low-partial-pressure conditions required to activate nitrogenase and hydrogenase enzyme pathways in the bacteria, the biological mechanisms responsible for hydrogen evolution.
The bioreactor will feature a controlled hydrogen sulfide inlet system for regulated feedstock delivery, and a dedicated hydrogen gas outlet with inline monitoring (MQ-8 sensor array calibrated against GC-MS standards) for safe capture and purity validation. Cost-effective, adjustable-spectrum LED arrays operating in the 800–900 nm
near-infrared range will provide the photosynthetic energy input needed for bacterial metabolism without the expense of natural light infrastructure.

The research candidate will lead bioreactor design and fabrication, firmware development for the IoT control system, fermentation protocol optimization, and performance validation across operating conditions. The methodology combines bioprocess engineering, embedded systems development, and applied microbiology to produce a reproducible, scalable system validated with real sulfide feedstocks. However, for initial testing sodium sulfide or other sulfide sources may be used for simplicity.

Required expertise/skills: 

The ideal candidate brings a combination of bioprocess engineering and embedded systems expertise relevant to the core technical challenges of this project.
In bioprocess engineering, the candidate should have hands-on experience with anaerobic fermentation systems, bioreactor design and operation, and microbial cultivation techniques. Familiarity with photosynthetic or anaerobic bacteria, particularly Purple Sulfur Bacteria or similar organisms, is a strong asset. Experience with gas handling systems, including inert gas purging, headspace management, and hydrogen detection, is essential.
On the instrumentation and IoT side, proficiency in embedded systems programming (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or equivalent) is required for developing the sensor integration and automated control firmware. Experience with real-time sensor networks covering pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and gas concentration monitoring is directly applicable. Familiarity with data logging, remote monitoring platforms, and basic electronics for sensor integration is expected.
Additional assets include experience with LED-based photobioreactor illumination systems, CAD or prototyping skills for physical bioreactor fabrication, and knowledge of hydrogen safety protocols.
Programming skills in Python or C++ for data acquisition and process automation are beneficial. Prior experience working in a startup or industry research environment is an asset but not required.