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Review
. 2024 Jun;64(2):445-456.
doi: 10.1007/s12088-024-01319-1. Epub 2024 May 31.

Nonsterile Process for Biohydrogen Production: Recent Updates, Challenges, and Opportunities

Sanjay K S Patel  1   2 , Rahul K Gupta  1 , Karthikeyan K Karuppanan  1 , Deepak Kumar Padhi  1 , Sampathkumar Ranganathan  1 , Parasuraman Paramanantham  1 , Jung-Kul Lee  1
Affiliations
Review

Nonsterile Process for Biohydrogen Production: Recent Updates, Challenges, and Opportunities

Sanjay K S Patel et al. Indian J Microbiol. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Hydrogen (H2), a clean and versatile energy carrier, has recently gained significant attention as a potential solution for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy systems. The yield and efficiency of the biological H2 production process primarily depend on sterilization conditions. Various strategies, such as heat inactivation and membrane-based sterilization, have been used to achieve desirable yields via microbial fermentation. Almost every failed biotransformation process is linked to nonsterile conditions at any reaction stage. Therefore, the production of renewable biofuels as alternatives to fossil fuels is more attractive. Pure sugars have been widely documented as a costly feedstock for H2 production under sterile conditions. Biotransformation under nonsterile conditions is more desirable for stable and sustainable operation. Low-cost feeds, such as biowaste, are considered suitable alternatives, but they require appropriate sterilization to overcome the limitations of inherited or contaminating microbes during H2 production. This article describes the status of microbial fermentative processes for H2 production under nonsterile conditions and discusses strategies to improve such processes for sustainable, cleaner production.

Keywords: Biofuel; Biohydrogen; Fermentation; Microbial biotransformation; Nonsterile conditions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestsThe authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Dark fermentation biohydrogen production: PFL/pfl, pyruvate formate lyase pathway (Adapted by Escherichia as facultative anaerobes), PFOR, pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase pathway (Adapted by Clostridium as obligate anaerobes), ldh, lactate dehydrogenase, fdh, formate dehydrogenase, fhl, formate hydrogenlyase, H2, hydrogen, CO2, carbon dioxide. Equations represent the conversion of glucose/hexose to generate H2 via acetate (4 mol of H2) or butyrate (2 mol of H2) under dark fermentation, and the complete oxidation (12 mol of H2) under combined dark- and photo-fermentation
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