Different Ways to Produce Biohydrogen
With many in the world today seeking alternatives to help reduce our reliance on oil as a fuel source, one biofuel may prove dominant over all others. The production of biohydrogen has been researched as a feasible fuel source ever since the first oil crisis in the 1970s. Its production involves using algae or bacteria and harnessing the hydrogen they produce for future use. Analysis of the production process shows that biohydrogen can be produced at lower costs than other biofuels, such as ethanol. Also, its use creates the clean by-product of water as opposed to the gases produced from burning fossil fuels. According to the BioHydrogen webpage, three methods of production have been identified: biophotolysis of water by microalgae and cyanobacteria, anoxygenic photosynthesis by photosynthetic bacteria, and dark fermentation by anaerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria. (http://www.biohydrogen.co.uk/page/1%7C9wu/About_Hydrogen_Energy.html)The first natural method of producing biohydrogen is called the biophotolysis of water. This involves the consumption of water by microalgae and cyanobacteria. The consumed water is broken down using photosynthesis by these organisms into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. The second natural method is referred to as the anoxygenic photosynthesis by photosynthetic bacteria. This involves anaerobic bacteria using light which it converts to hydrogen gas. Microalgae and cyanobacteria both need oxygen to survive, whereas anaerobic bacteria does not. The use of anaerobic bacteria may result in the greater amount of hydrogen produced when compared to the first method since no oxygen is present. Also, scientists have even discovered a way to turn off the photosynthesis process, causing algae to burn off stored energy, resulting in the hydrogen production in bulk as a by-product. (http://www.fuelcellknowledge.org/related_technologies/bio_hydrogen.html)The final natural method of producing biohydrogen is called the dark fermentation by anaerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria. This involves organisms that need no oxygen or light source. These anaerobic bacteria consume other organic materials, sugars and starches, producing hydrogen as waste. Although not as fruitful as the other methods of producing biohydrogen, it still trumps other production methods for other biofuels.The world's need of an alternative fuel source is more evident now with the high price of gasoline. It is relatively cheap to produce and it does not require as many resources to acquire or store as with other biofuels. Also, it does not compete with the food supply of our nations and it only produces water vapor as waste when used. Let's support the research for developing biohydrogen as a viable fuel source. Using biohydrogen as a fuel can be the step toward a cleaner, more efficient future.Tweet
With many in the world today seeking alternatives to help reduce our reliance on oil as a fuel source, one biofuel may prove dominant over all others. The production of biohydrogen has been researched as a feasible fuel source ever since the first oil crisis in the 1970s. Its production involves using algae or bacteria and harnessing the hydrogen they produce for future use. Analysis of the production process shows that biohydrogen can be produced at lower costs than other biofuels, such as ethanol. Also, its use creates the clean by-product of water as opposed to the gases produced from burning fossil fuels. According to the BioHydrogen webpage, three methods of production have been identified: biophotolysis of water by microalgae and cyanobacteria, anoxygenic photosynthesis by photosynthetic bacteria, and dark fermentation by anaerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria. (http://www.biohydrogen.co.uk/page/1%7C9wu/About_Hydrogen_Energy.html)
The first natural method of producing biohydrogen is called the biophotolysis of water. This involves the consumption of water by microalgae and cyanobacteria. The consumed water is broken down using photosynthesis by these organisms into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. The second natural method is referred to as the anoxygenic photosynthesis by photosynthetic bacteria. This involves anaerobic bacteria using light which it converts to hydrogen gas. Microalgae and cyanobacteria both need oxygen to survive, whereas anaerobic bacteria does not. The use of anaerobic bacteria may result in the greater amount of hydrogen produced when compared to the first method since no oxygen is present. Also, scientists have even discovered a way to turn off the photosynthesis process, causing algae to burn off stored energy, resulting in the hydrogen production in bulk as a by-product. (http://www.fuelcellknowledge.org/related_technologies/bio_hydrogen.html)
The final natural method of producing biohydrogen is called the dark fermentation by anaerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria. This involves organisms that need no oxygen or light source. These anaerobic bacteria consume other organic materials, sugars and starches, producing hydrogen as waste. Although not as fruitful as the other methods of producing biohydrogen, it still trumps other production methods for other biofuels.
The world's need of an alternative fuel source is more evident now with the high price of gasoline. It is relatively cheap to produce and it does not require as many resources to acquire or store as with other biofuels. Also, it does not compete with the food supply of our nations and it only produces water vapor as waste when used. Let's support the research for developing biohydrogen as a viable fuel source. Using biohydrogen as a fuel can be the step toward a cleaner, more efficient future.
