Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the thermophilic biohydrogen production using an enrichment culture from a Turkish hot spring. Following the enrichment, the culture was heat treated at 100 degrees C for 10 min to select for spore-forming bacteria. H(2) production was accompanied by production of acetate, butyrate, lactate and ethanol. H(2) production was associated by acetate-butyrate type fermentation while accumulation of lactate and ethanol negatively affected the H(2) yield. H(2) production was highest in the temperature range from 49.6 to 54.8 degrees C and optimum values for initial pH and concentrations of iron, yeast extract and glucose were 6.5, 40 mg/l, 4-13.5 g/l, respectively. PCR-DGGE profiling showed that the heat treated culture consisted of species closely affiliated to genus Thermoanaerobacterium.