Comparative Study of Hydrogen Production from Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste and Its Challenges: A Review

Abstract

The growing interest in hydrogen production arises from its higher energy density, making it an attractive option for energy storage and fuel applications. However, hydrogen production relies heavily on fossil fuels, producing substantial CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), which constitutes a significant portion of solid waste, predominantly ends up in landfills, leading to methane emissions. Harnessing hydrogen from OFMSW offers an opportunity to offset methane emissions and promote cleaner hydrogen production compared to conventional methods. Various pretreatment methods and production techniques have been explored for hydrogen production from OFMSW, including bio-photolysis, photo-fermentation, microbial electrolysis, and dark fermentation. This study presents a comparative analysis of these methods, evaluating their efficiency, scalability, and potential challenges for hydrogen fuel production from OFMSW. By exploring these avenues, this study found the current hydrogen fuel production scenarios where OFMSW contributes a small portion due to the limited yield. Microbial electrolysis can help to improve the yield and feedstock quality. This study recommends further investigation into the advancement of sustainable hydrogen production and provides insights into overcoming the obstacles associated with this promising field.