Biological hydrogen production; fundamentals and limiting processes

Biological hydrogen production has been known for over a century and research directed at applying this process to a practical means of hydrogen fuel production has been carried out for over a quarter century. The various approaches that have been proposed and investigated are reviewed and critical limiting factors identified. The low energy content of solar irradiation dictates that photosynthetic processes operate at high conversion efficiencies and places severe restrictions on photobioreactor economics. Conversion efficiencies for direct biophotolysis are below 1% and indirect biophotolysis remains to be demonstrated. Dark fermentation of biomass or wastes presents an alternative route to biological hydrogen production that has been little studied. In this case the critical factor is the amount of hydrogen that can be produced per mole of substrate. Known pathways and experimental evidence indicates that at most 2–3 mol of hydrogen can be obtained from substrates such as glucose. Process economics require that means be sought to increase these yields.