Biohydrogen Production from Biomass and Wastes via Dark Fermentation: A Review

Abstract

The present review article aims to summarize the microbiological and technological background of the dark fermentation processes for hydrogen generation, emphasising on the exploitation of biomass and wastes as potential feedstocks. The basic principles, the microbiology and the current technology of the processes are outlined. Subsequently, the use of different types of biomass and wastes that have so far been tested as feedstocks is analysed focusing on the advantages, possible limitations and future prospects of their exploitation. Moreover, different types of so far suggested pretreatment methods for better utilisation of the feedstocks are presented, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Finally, methods for possible further utilisation of the generated by-products are laid out as well as the present status of the real scale applications.

Enhancement of biohydrogen production from starch processing wastewater and further inside its ecosystem disclosed by 16S rDNA sequencing and FISH

“…Not only acetate and butyrate pathways, but hydrogen may also be produced via other pathway, pyruvate-formate lyase (PFL), which generating formic acid (HCOOH). HCOOH can convert to hydrogen and carbon dioxide (Eq 3 and 4) [21] . PFL pathway was favors neutral pH [22] .…”

The Protagonism of Biocatalysis in Green Chemistry and Its Environmental Benefits

“…This leads to decreased energy consumption and a favorable energy balance [202]. Among the biological processes for H 2 production, anaerobic fermentation is very interesting, because the increased production of hydrogen as compared to other biological processes and the possibility of utilizing agricultural or industrial waste materials [200,[203][204][205].…”

“…The utilization of residues as substrates for H 2 production has attracted great interest. The conversion of waste or effluents into H 2 can be considered quite environmentally and economically attractive, due to the generation of renewable energy in association with resource recovery and low-cost waste management [205]. Thus, fermentation of different bacteria utilizing diverse waste materials as substrates has been employed to produce H 2 p. Table 6 presents a comparative analysis of recent studies of H 2 production by anaerobic fermentation from waste materials.…”

Exploring untapped energy potential of urban solid waste

“…Likewise, biohydrogen is also being produced by decomposing carbohydrate-rich waste material through this simple technology. Biohydrogen could be produced either by dark fermentation or through photo-fermentation (Ntaikou et al 2010;Chaubey et al 2013;Soo et al 2015). At the end of the fermentation process, alcohol solvents and organic acids are produced apart from hydrogen which can also be commercially utilized instead of being discharged as waste.…”