Assessment of Global Potential of Biohydrogen Production from Agricultural Residues and Its Application in Nitrogen Fertilizer Production

Abstract

In the present study, an attempt was made to investigate the potential of some of the major world’s crops, including wheat, corn, rice, barley, sugarcane, sugar beet, potatoes, and oats, to produce biohydrogen. The collectable amount of agricultural residues that could especially be used to produce hydrogen was estimated in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, Northern America, Oceania, and South America, and the potential amount of ammonia as the main nitrogen fertilizer was estimated. Double exponential smoothing method was employed to forecast the future crop production and area harvested. It was calculated that about 10.56 (in 2013) and 15.5 (in 2030) Mt of biohydrogen and 59.84 (in 2013) and 85.86 (in 2030) Mt of ammonia could be obtained globally. In addition, the application of biohydrogen from cereal residues to provide their nitrogen requirement was calculated based on the cultivable area. Nitrogen requirements of near 17%, 31%, 12%, and 33% of the global cultivation area of wheat, corn, barley, and rice would be possibly supplied by the collected residues of the same crops, respectively. Eventually, a discussion has been made on the amount of potentially savable natural gas and reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consequent social costs by global development of biohydrogen industries.