Biohydrogen Production and Its Integration with Industrial and Urban Effluent Recycling

Hydrogen, with its characteristics of cost-effectiveness, high energy density, and low pollution levels, is the most promising fuel among renewable energies. While investments in infrastructure for hydrogen production through photolysis have already begun, with factories being constructed around the globe, a practical and scalable solution for the biological production of this substance is still lacking. This solution would enable the use of waste and other organic effluents as substrates for bio-hydrogen generation. Various mechanisms can be employed for this purpose, such as the use of anaerobic bacteria, photo-fermentative systems, complex co-production systems, or even direct bio-photolysis promoted by cyanobacteria and microalgae. This chapter will demonstrate the possibilities for biohydrogen production from urban and industrial effluents, as well as the limitations of implementing it in production plants coupled with waste and effluent treatment stations.