Biohydrogen Production by Photosynthetic Microorganisms

Hydrogen is a promising green alternative to fossil fuel due to its low environmental impact and high energy density, which is nearly three times higher than current transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel. Renewable means of hydrogen production can be achieved by several different microbial routes and a variety of phototrophic microorganisms are endowed with genes and proteins for biohydrogen production. In this context, research has been focused on improving photobioreactor performance for practical and commercial applications, specifically regarding the low yield associated with it compared to other biofuels. This chapter provides an overview of the different types of photosynthetic microorganisms involved in biohydrogen production, the substrates utilized, the various photobioreactor designs employed, and the role of genetic engineering in enhancing hydrogen production rates. Moreover, the hurdles and limitations encountered during hydrogen production are discussed, along with future perspectives for advancing biohydrogen production.