Recent progress in bio-hydrogen production for sustainable energy and chemical production

IF 16.3 1区工程技术 Q1 ENERGY & FUELS

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Pub Date : 2025-09-21 DOI:10.1016/j.rser.2025.116307

Dillon Openshaw, Giuseppe Bagnato

{"title":"Recent progress in bio-hydrogen production for sustainable energy and chemical production","authors":"Dillon Openshaw, Giuseppe Bagnato","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.116307","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To combat global warming, the decarbonisation of energy systems is essential. Hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) is an established chemical feedstock in many industries (fertiliser production, steel manufacturing etc.) and has emerged as a promising clean energy carrier due to its high energy density and carbon-free usage. However, most H<sub>2</sub> is currently produced from fossil fuels, undermining its sustainability. Biomass offers a renewable, carbon-neutral feedstock for H<sub>2</sub> production, potentially reducing its environmental impact. This review examines thermochemical, biological, and electrochemical methods of bio-H<sub>2</sub> generation.</div><div>Thermochemical processes - including gasification, fast pyrolysis, and steam reforming - are the most technologically advanced, offering high H<sub>2</sub> yields. However, challenges such as catalyst deactivation, tar formation, and pre- and post-processing limit efficiency. Advanced strategies like chemical looping, sorption enhancement, and membrane reactors are being developed to address these issues.</div><div>Biological methods, including dark and photo fermentation, operate under mild conditions and can process diverse waste feedstocks. Despite their potential, low H<sub>2</sub> yields and difficulties in microbial inhibitors hinder scalability. Ensuring that microbial populations remain stable through the use of additives and optimising the bioreactors hydraulic retention rate also remain a challenge Combined fermentation systems and valorising by-products could enhance performance and commercial viability.</div><div>Electrochemical reforming of biomass-derived compounds is an emerging method that may enhance water electrolysis by co-producing value-added by-products. However, current studies focus on biomass-derived compounds rather than complex biomass feedstocks, limiting commercial relevance. Future research should focus on feedstock complexity, electrocatalyst development, and system scaling.</div><div>A technology readiness comparison shows that thermochemical methods are the most commercially mature, followed by biological and electrochemical approaches. Each method holds promise within specific niches, warranting continued innovation and interdisciplinary development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"226 ","pages":"Article 116307"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"1","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032125009803","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

To combat global warming, the decarbonisation of energy systems is essential. Hydrogen (H₂) is an established chemical feedstock in many industries (fertiliser production, steel manufacturing etc.) and has emerged as a promising clean energy carrier due to its high energy density and carbon-free usage. However, most H₂ is currently produced from fossil fuels, undermining its sustainability. Biomass offers a renewable, carbon-neutral feedstock for H₂ production, potentially reducing its environmental impact. This review examines thermochemical, biological, and electrochemical methods of bio-H₂ generation.

Thermochemical processes - including gasification, fast pyrolysis, and steam reforming - are the most technologically advanced, offering high H₂ yields. However, challenges such as catalyst deactivation, tar formation, and pre- and post-processing limit efficiency. Advanced strategies like chemical looping, sorption enhancement, and membrane reactors are being developed to address these issues.

Biological methods, including dark and photo fermentation, operate under mild conditions and can process diverse waste feedstocks. Despite their potential, low H₂ yields and difficulties in microbial inhibitors hinder scalability. Ensuring that microbial populations remain stable through the use of additives and optimising the bioreactors hydraulic retention rate also remain a challenge Combined fermentation systems and valorising by-products could enhance performance and commercial viability.

Electrochemical reforming of biomass-derived compounds is an emerging method that may enhance water electrolysis by co-producing value-added by-products. However, current studies focus on biomass-derived compounds rather than complex biomass feedstocks, limiting commercial relevance. Future research should focus on feedstock complexity, electrocatalyst development, and system scaling.

A technology readiness comparison shows that thermochemical methods are the most commercially mature, followed by biological and electrochemical approaches. Each method holds promise within specific niches, warranting continued innovation and interdisciplinary development.

查看原文本刊更多论文

用于可持续能源和化工生产的生物制氢的最新进展

为了对抗全球变暖，能源系统的脱碳至关重要。氢（H2）是许多行业（化肥生产，钢铁制造等）的既定化学原料，由于其高能量密度和无碳使用，已成为一种有前途的清洁能源载体。然而，目前大多数氢气是由化石燃料产生的，这削弱了它的可持续性。生物质为氢气生产提供了一种可再生的碳中性原料，潜在地减少了其对环境的影响。本文综述了生物制氢的热化学、生物和电化学方法。热化学过程——包括气化、快速热解和蒸汽重整——是技术最先进的，可以提供高H2产量。然而，催化剂失活、焦油形成、预处理和后处理等挑战限制了效率。诸如化学环、吸附增强和膜反应器等先进策略正在开发中以解决这些问题。生物方法，包括暗发酵和光发酵，在温和的条件下操作，可以处理各种废物原料。尽管它们具有潜力，但低H2产率和微生物抑制剂的困难阻碍了可扩展性。通过使用添加剂和优化生物反应器的水力保留率来确保微生物种群保持稳定也仍然是一个挑战，联合发酵系统和增值副产品可以提高性能和商业可行性。生物质衍生化合物的电化学重整是一种新兴的方法，可以通过共同产生增值副产物来提高水电解。然而，目前的研究集中在生物质衍生化合物，而不是复杂的生物质原料，限制了商业相关性。未来的研究应集中在原料的复杂性、电催化剂的发展和系统的规模。技术成熟度比较表明，热化学方法在商业上最成熟，其次是生物和电化学方法。每种方法在特定的利基领域都有希望，保证持续的创新和跨学科的发展。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 工程技术-能源与燃料

CiteScore

31.20

自引率

5.70%

发文量

1055

审稿时长

62 days

期刊介绍： The mission of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is to disseminate the most compelling and pertinent critical insights in renewable and sustainable energy, fostering collaboration among the research community, private sector, and policy and decision makers. The journal aims to exchange challenges, solutions, innovative concepts, and technologies, contributing to sustainable development, the transition to a low-carbon future, and the attainment of emissions targets outlined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews publishes a diverse range of content, including review papers, original research, case studies, and analyses of new technologies, all featuring a substantial review component such as critique, comparison, or analysis. Introducing a distinctive paper type, Expert Insights, the journal presents commissioned mini-reviews authored by field leaders, addressing topics of significant interest. Case studies undergo consideration only if they showcase the work's applicability to other regions or contribute valuable insights to the broader field of renewable and sustainable energy. Notably, a bibliographic or literature review lacking critical analysis is deemed unsuitable for publication.