BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN

FROM RENEWABLE NON-FOOD FEEDSTOCK

Albakri Abu Bakar, Vivian Lee Kah Yan, Yuen Theng Loh, Shu Ning Ooi, Brenda Wiputeri (Group 43)

HISTORY MARKET SIZE

Biological production of hydrogen is still in its early stages of
development, where further research are currently • Biological production of Hydrogen (H2) is an environmentally sustainable
ongoing with aims to achieve the required processes to produce H2, a promising high energy density and clean
commercial targets in terms of cost reduction, alternative renewable energy.
hydrogen production rate, and efficiency. • This alternative biofuel enables countries (e.g. U.S.) to alleviate their foreign
1939 – Hans Graffron and team discovered the oil dependence and ease political tensions.
H2 metabolism of green algae • Photolytic production of H2 is economically efficient, making use of renewable and
Scenedesmus obliqus [1]. readily available sunlight, resulting in low to zero carbon emissions.
1942 - Graffron and Rubin discovered the H2 • Algae and bacteria used for H2 production can be
production from anaerobic respiration of algae. cultivated in agri-waste and wastewater.
1949 –Gent and Kamen reported that in a side • Estimated production cost of a pond bioreactor is
reaction involving Nitrogenase, H2 is produced $13.5/kg H2. Future target is $2.6/ kg H2 [4].
by photosynthesis bacterium Rhodospirillum. The commercial viability and efficiency of biological
1980s – Roesster discovered Ferrodoxin as a production of H2 is still in its early stages of research. Most H2
direct electron donor of Hydrogenase.
are currently produced from fossil fuel feedstock, which is
2000 –Silbert, Ghirandi and Melis discovered
non-renewable and not environmentally friendly as bio-
decreasing the amount of sulphate in
sealed cultures of C.reinhardtii, increases hydrogen from biological processes.
H2 production substantially [2].
2013 - Volfusheva, Styring and Mamedov Figure 1 – World H2 production methods [5]
discovered a more efficient photobiological
H2 production from the investigation of SITUATION IN THE UK
Chlamydomonas reinhartii photosynthesis • UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association raises awareness on H2 research funding and
reaction after the removal of sulphur [3]. future potential of H2 as energy source to industries and government.
• University of Cambridge proposed award-winning “Algae House” model from in-built
MAIN TECHNOLOGIES Figure 2 – “Algae House” [6] algae tubes and photobioreactors to co-produce hydrogen to generate electricity
through fuel cells [6].
FERMENTATION BIOPHOTOLYSIS • Research at Imperial College London developed a two-stage anaerobic and aerobic
Dark Fermentation Direct Photolysis photobioreactor system to co-yield hydrogen and cyanobacteria from algae at an
 Anaerobic process using industrial scale. The productivity is 6.4 times greater than a single chamber batch
 Solar energy acting on photosynthetic
fermentative bacteria system. Their subsequent study is to integrate an outdoor scaled-up system and test
algae systems in water
 Carbohydrates (e.g. glucose) its effectiveness and viability [7].
2H2O + Light → 2H2 + O2
from wastewater as substrates  Anaerobic conditions. Photosystem I CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS
and hydrogenase as enzyme (PSI) absorbs light, PSII splits water into CHALLENGES SOLUTION
 Not restricted by light energy O2 and H+Due to hydrogenase sensitivity
 Addition of N, P, Fe, and S Fermentation Fermentation
towards O2 production, O2 absorbers
enables higher conversion [8] • Low H2 yield • Use hybrid dark and photo
needed to keep O2 content low
 Byproducts of valuable organic • Presence of H2 inhibiting fermentation process
 Low production rate <0.1 mmol H2/L/hr
acids and CO2, which needs to compounds • Cell immobalisation
producing <0.1 kJ/L/hr energy
be separated • CO2 byproduct • Controlling pH at 5-7
 Low yield (0.5-0.7 mol H2/mol S) [10]
 Production rate > 20 mmol H2 / • Scale up and expensive • Enhance gas separation technique
(L hr) bioreactors • Develop new strains of
 Relatively high experimental • Low light conversion efficiency photosynthetic bacteria
yield (50-75% from theoretical and inhomogeneity of light • Use wide light spectrum
yield of 4 mol H2 /mol S) [9] distribution (Photo) • Use optical fiber in the reactor
Photo Fermentation
Photolysis Photolysis
 Photosynthetic bacteria (e.g.
• Low light conversion efficiency • Trim chlorophyll antenna of
Rhodobacter) converting
• Production of explosive H2-O2 photosystems [11]
organic acids into H2
mixtures • Separate growth and conversion of
 Non-spontaneous reaction,
• Down-regulation of electron carbohydrates
requires light energy
transport [11] • Integrate two-stage production to
 Production rate > 0.1 mmol H2
Figure 3 - Indirect Photolysis Process • Hydrogenase sensitivity towards spatially separate O2 and H2
/ (L hr)
O2 evolution (Direct) evolution
 Low yield of 30% from Indirect Photolysis • Cost of photobioreactor and
theoretical [9]
Two-stage photolysis process on viability at an industrial level
Cyanobacteria, evading the problem of H2
production inhibition from O2 evolution: CONCLUSION
1. Photosynthesis, aerobic stage Current H2 production are mainly derived from non-sustainable feedstock. The
2. Fermentation, anaerobic stage biological production of H 2 from renewable non-food feedstock is a novel
• Low light conversion efficiency (<3%) environmentally sustainable production process. Current developing main
• Higher production rate > 0.1 technologies include fermentation and biophotolysis. Ongoing research are
mmol/L/hr producing <0.4 kJ/L/hr evolving these technologies to tackle the major barriers, which are economic
energy [10] feasibility and capability for large scale production.
• Experimental yield of 40% from REFERENCES
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DEFINITIONS Mar. 2017]
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