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Microalgal Hydrogen Production in Relation to Other Biomass-Based Technologies—A Review

Author

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  • Marcin Dębowski

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Magda Dudek

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Marcin Zieliński

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Anna Nowicka

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Joanna Kazimierowicz

    (Department of Water Supply and Sewage Systems, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland)

Abstract

Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly biofuel which, if widely used, could reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions. The main barrier to the widespread use of hydrogen for power generation is the lack of technologically feasible and—more importantly—cost-effective methods of production and storage. So far, hydrogen has been produced using thermochemical methods (such as gasification, pyrolysis or water electrolysis) and biological methods (most of which involve anaerobic digestion and photofermentation), with conventional fuels, waste or dedicated crop biomass used as a feedstock. Microalgae possess very high photosynthetic efficiency, can rapidly build biomass, and possess other beneficial properties, which is why they are considered to be one of the strongest contenders among biohydrogen production technologies. This review gives an account of present knowledge on microalgal hydrogen production and compares it with the other available biofuel production technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcin Dębowski & Magda Dudek & Marcin Zieliński & Anna Nowicka & Joanna Kazimierowicz, 2021. "Microalgal Hydrogen Production in Relation to Other Biomass-Based Technologies—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-27, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:19:p:6025-:d:640644
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Magda Dudek & Marcin Dębowski & Anna Nowicka & Joanna Kazimierowicz & Marcin Zieliński, 2022. "The Effect of Autotrophic Cultivation of Platymonas subcordiformis in Waters from the Natural Aquatic Reservoir on Hydrogen Yield," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Tomasz Jóźwiak & Urszula Filipkowska & Paulina Walczak, 2022. "The Use of Aminated Wheat Straw for Reactive Black 5 Dye Removal from Aqueous Solutions as a Potential Method of Biomass Valorization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Eleftherios Touloupakis & Cecilia Faraloni & Ana Margarita Silva Benavides & Giuseppe Torzillo, 2021. "Recent Achievements in Microalgal Photobiological Hydrogen Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Jun Sheng Teh & Yew Heng Teoh & Heoy Geok How & Mohamad Yusof Idroas & Thanh Danh Le & Huu Tho Nguyen, 2022. "Experimental Studies of Combustion and Emission Characteristics of Biomass Producer Gas (BPG) in a Constant Volume Combustion Chamber (CVCC) System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-18, October.
    5. Joanna Kazimierowicz & Marcin Dębowski & Marcin Zieliński, 2022. "Progress and Challenges in Biohydrogen Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-3, July.
    6. Marcin Zieliński & Marcin Dębowski & Joanna Kazimierowicz & Izabela Świca, 2023. "Microalgal Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Capture and Utilization from the European Union Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-27, February.
    7. Joanna Kazimierowicz & Marcin Dębowski & Marcin Zieliński, 2022. "Effectiveness of Hydrogen Production by Bacteroides vulgatus in Psychrophilic Fermentation of Cattle Slurry," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-9, August.

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