·Using Rhodoseudomonas palustris CQK-01 as biocatalyst，the effects of initial glucose concentrations and values of pH on glucose cross-transport rate in cell membrane，permeability of cell membrane and performance of hydrogen production were experimentally studied in a batch photobioreactor，and the permeation coefficient of glucose across the cell membrane of photosynthetic bacteria was estimated.The results showed that the transport rate and permeability of substrate across the membrane varied with time and its living conditions.For low initial glucose concentrations，the maximum cross-transport rate increased with its initial concentration and there was a maximum value at 75 mmol·L-1; while the maximum permeation coefficient kept almost the same，250 cm3·g DW)-1·h-1，for various glucose concentrations.However，for high substrate concentrations，the cross-transport rate decreased due to its inhibition and the permeation coefficient was 116 cm3·g DW) -1·h -1 at 150 mmol·L-1.Furthermore，when the initial pH value was 7.0，there was best permeability and the maximum cross-transport rate was 9.74 mmol·g DW) -1·h-1.Under the present experimental conditions，the average maximum rate and yield of hydrogen production by the photosynthetic bacteria were 0.26 mmol·L-1·h -1 and 0.63 mol H2· (mol glucose)-1，respectively.