Enhancement of biological hydrogen production using green alga Chlorococcum minutum

Abstract

It is estimated that the fossil fuel reserves are going to deplete continuously due to extensive usage. In order to cope with this crisis, it is necessary to increase the efforts towards production of biofuels such as biological hydrogen (H2). It is well-known fact that the biological hydrogen is a clean and ideal energy and liberates high amount of energy per unit mass. Several groups are working for the large scale production of H2 chemically and also using photosynthetic organisms, but output is not satisfactory. The best way to achieve enhancement of H2 is through altering the photosynthetic process by applying various stress conditions or by natural selection. In the process of selection, Chlorococcum minutum was found with improved H2 output when compared to model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in a massively parallel and competitive high-throughput screen of different green algae. Both the species belongs to class chlorophyceae of green algae and live in fresh water conditions. In extent various light, pH and temperature conditions were applied and achieved the enhancement of H2 production in this species under in vitro settings. Augmented hydrogenase activity was found in Chlorococcum minutum when compared to model alga and this may be one of the reason behind improved H2 output. Hence this species may be considered as one of the best species with respect to H2 production and also this work may be useful for future renewable energy research.