Biohydrogen—A Green Fuel for Sustainable Energy Solutions

Abstract

Energy plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of modern nations. Today, hydrogen is considered the most promising alternative fuel as it can be generated from clean and green sources. Moreover, it is an efficient energy carrier because hydrogen burning only generates water as a byproduct. Currently, it is generated from natural gas. However, it can be produced using other methods, i.e., physicochemical, thermal, and biological. The biological method is considered more environmentally friendly and pollution free. This paper aims to provide an updated review of biohydrogen production via photofermentation, dark fermentation, and microbial electrolysis cells using different waste materials as feedstocks. Besides, the role of nanotechnology in enhancing biohydrogen production is examined. Under anaerobic conditions, hydrogen is produced during the conversion of organic substrate into organic acids using fermentative bacteria and during the conversion of organic acids into hydrogen and carbon dioxide using photofermentative bacteria. Different factors that enhance the biohydrogen production of these organisms, either combined or sequentially, using dark and photofermentation processes, are examined, and the effect of each factor on biohydrogen production efficiency is reported. A comparison of hydrogen production efficiency between dark fermentation, photofermentation, and two-stage processes is also presented.

A Review of the Role of Hydrogen in the Heat Decarbonization of Future Energy Systems: Insights and Perspectives

“…A comparative study of different types of electrolyzers offering an economic assessment of green hydrogen production, shedding light on the cost implications and efficiency of various production methods is pre-sented in [14]. References [15,16] demonstrate the advancements in hydrogen production technologies, including photo fermentation, dark fermentation, and microbial electrolysis cells. They emphasize the potential of utilizing waste materials as feedstocks and the pivotal role of nanotechnology in boosting the efficiency of biohydrogen production.…”

Comparison of Hydrogen Production Efficiency by Rhodopseudomonas palustris MP3 and Rhodopseudomonas harwoodiae SP6 Using an Iron Complex as an Enhancement Factor

“…Authenticated energy safety is essential for political, economic and social strength. The rapid increase in population and energy demands has led to an expeditious consumption of fossil fuels, which burn with devastating impacts [1,2]. The continual emissions of greenhouse gases, such as CH 4 , CO 2 , and N 2 O, are responsible for climate change and global warming, which cause glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise and human health to suffer [3], with CO 2 emission constituting 57% of emissions [4].…”

“…The continual emissions of greenhouse gases, such as CH 4 , CO 2 , and N 2 O, are responsible for climate change and global warming, which cause glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise and human health to suffer [3], with CO 2 emission constituting 57% of emissions [4]. Considering the effects of climate change, world leaders have united in trying to minimise greenhouse gases and to cut back on average global warming to 2 • C above the preindustrial average world temperatures during the United Nations Climate Change Conference and the Conference of the Parties 2 of 10 in Paris [2]. This has led researchers to focus on developing alternative energy sources that are cost-effective, environmentally friendly and sustainable.…”

“…The biological routes of H 2 production are biophotolysis, photo-fermentation, dark fermentation and microbial electrolysis cells [2,3,[5][6][7][8]. According to life cycle assessment and techno-economic studies, dark fermentation is considered the best method for H 2 production [9].…”

“…According to life cycle assessment and techno-economic studies, dark fermentation is considered the best method for H 2 production [9]. However, photo-fermentation using purple non-sulphur bacteria (PNSB) offers several advantages, including 100% electron release from the organic acids by photosynthetic bacteria, which results in high H 2 yields [2].…”