A Systematic Review on Photocatalytic Biohydrogen Production from Waste Biomass

Abstract

Hydrogen, a form of energy that is both clean and renewable, is now being researched and developed as a potential source of alternative energy. There are many different kinds of microbial systems that have the potential to be utilised in the manufacturing of biohydrogen. Thermophiles are found as potential producers of hydrogen, at a high rate, in adverse operating conditions. Temperature, pH, and concentration of substrates play a crucial role in affecting the metabolism of these microorganisms. Sustainable production of hydrogen is feasible when organic waste is employed as a potential feedstock. The overall yield of hydrogen production procedures demands improvements, to turn them into commercial applications. The integration of two-stage processes may contribute to an overall increase in energy output. As examples of second-stage processes, biomethanation, microbial electrolysis cells, photo-fermentation, and microbial fuel cells have been the subject of extensive research. This article provides an overview of the photocatalytic method for producing biohydrogen, including its fundamentals and underlying mechanisms, as well as other biological methods of hydrogen production. This process exhibits reduced energy consumption and demonstrates environmental friendliness by potentially utilising waste material as a substrate.

Graphical Abstract