Biohydrogen Production Using Fungi: Recent Advances and Applications

Sustainable and renewable energy sources have made biohydrogen a potential alternative to fossil fuels because of its high energy output and absence of carbon emissions. Fungal systems are also considered efficient and environmentally friendly solutions to the problem of hydrogen generation, due to their exceptional enzyme activities and ability to withstand various organic substances. This chapter gives a broad profile of fungal biohydrogen generation, which focuses on the mechanisms involved, including dark fermentation, and the benefits of fungal pretreatment of lignocellulosic and organic wastes. Recent developments in solid-state fermentation of fungi, metabolic and genetic engineering, and co-culture with hydrogen-producing bacteria are mentioned as the dominant approaches to improve hydrogen yield. The incorporation of fungal biohydrogen generation into a biorefinery and a circular bioeconomy is also described, presenting opportunities to convert low-value waste streams into high-value bioenergy products. Although significant progress has been made, issues like scalability, process optimization, and economic feasibility are critical to industrial adoption. This chapter suggests future perspectives and research directions, including technological advances, hybrid methods of pretreatment, and optimization of the process, with the help of systems biology and machine learning. Altogether, this chapter highlights the important role of fungi in enhancing sustainable hydrogen generation and a low-carbon energy future.