Limitations of Bio-Hydrogen Production by Anaerobic Fermentation Process: An Overview

Turning organic wastes into hydrogen (H2) by using anaerobic fennentative technology is an ideal concept because this can accomplish both waste treatment and energy recovery objectives. However, H2 production using anaerobic fennentative approaches faces a fundamental limitation of poor H2 production yield (i.e. < 4 mol H2 per mol of hexose). This article gives an overview on the limitations of bio-H2 production using fennentative processes. Fundamental microbiology and thennodynamic ofthe processes are discussed.