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Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
Published on: March 10, 2023
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Advances and bottlenecks in microbial hydrogen production
Alan J Stephen1, Sophie A Archer1, Rafael L Orozco2
1School ofChemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Microbial Biotechnology
|August 24, 2017
Summary
Biological hydrogen production offers a sustainable energy future. This review examines biohydrogen processes, focusing on challenges in energy balance and the need for comprehensive life cycle assessments.
Area of Science:
- Sustainable energy technologies
- Biotechnology
- Environmental science
Background:
- Biological hydrogen production is a promising renewable energy source.
- Integration with waste management (organic wastes, CO2) is a key aspect.
- Current biohydrogen processes face several technical and economic hurdles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in biohydrogen production.
- To identify and analyze key bottlenecks in biohydrogen processes.
- To emphasize the need for economic and environmental assessments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of biohydrogen production technologies.
- Analysis of energy balance in different biohydrogen pathways.
- Discussion of challenges related to waste stream integration.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in various biohydrogen approaches.
- Key bottlenecks include overall process energy efficiency and economic viability.
- The integration of biohydrogen with waste management presents opportunities and challenges.
Conclusions:
- Biohydrogen holds significant potential for the future energy landscape.
- Addressing bottlenecks in energy balance and economics is crucial for scalability.
- Holistic life cycle analyses, including socio-economic and geographical factors, are essential for successful implementation.
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