Biohydrogen Production Technologies: Past, Present, and Future Perspective

Abstract

AbstractBiohydrogen is considered as the attractive future energy sources and clean energy due to its high energy content and eco-friendly conversion methods. Hydrogen energy sources became the most valuable energy as the current demands gradually begin to increase. Global temperature is increasing due to increasing pollution and hydrogen energy is an important key solution. Nowadays, technology related to hydrogen production is commercially available, and advancements are also under developmental stages. Currently, most hydrogen is produced by the electrolysis of water and by the steam reformation of natural gas. However, other conventional methods can be used for hydrogen production process such as thermo-chemical gasification, solar gasification, pyrolysis, and supercritical conversion process. However, to produce energy in sustainable manner, it is utmost important to go for the biological route for the hydrogen production as fuel. Biological production of hydrogen has significant advantages over thermochemical and electrochemical processes. This chapter discussed the major biological processes for hydrogen production such as indirect biophotolysis, direct biophotolysis, dark and photo fermentations, the sequential dark and photo fermentation, and biocatalyzed electrolysis. Major constraints include lower hydrogen yields and rate of hydrogen production, bioreactor configuration, intrinsic limitations in light conversion efficiencies, etc. To overcome all these constraints, the advancements in the scientific research such as development of efficient bioreactor design, engineered hydrogenase enzyme, and genetic modified microorganisms are, therefore, strongly recommended for the enhancement of hydrogen yields and production rate. The future status of the biological hydrogen generation not only depends upon the research advances but also considering economic and social acceptance.KeywordsBiomassDark fermentationPhoto fermentationBioreactorBiocatalyzed electrolysis