How Living Organisms Can Produce Clean Hydrogen Fuel for the Future
- Authors
- Chika Umunnawuike, Siti Qurratu' Aini Binti Mahat, Charity Ifeoma Ekeokwu Umunnawuike, Felicia Oluchi Nwanosike, Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi, Mohd Aizudin Bin Abd Aziz, Peter Ikechukwu Nwaichi, Francis Nyah, David Abutu, Augustine Agi
- Journal
- Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
- Year
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11356-026-38053-8
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Malaysia
- Health Condition
- General
TL;DR
Scientists looked at different ways to use tiny microbes (bacteria) to make clean hydrogen fuel, and found that one method called "dark fermentation" — where bacteria break down waste — works the best right now. This matters because hydrogen fuel could help replace fossil fuels, and using trash to make it is a win-win for the planet!
Key Finding
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Summary
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of biological hydrogen production technologies as pathways toward sustainable energy. Three principal methods were evaluated: dark fermentation, photo-driven processes including biophotolysis and photo-fermentation, and bioelectrochemical systems. Each was assessed for metabolic pathways, reactor design, operational parameters, and scalability. Dark fermentation emerged as the most mature technology, offering high production rates and compatibility with organic waste streams. Photo-driven systems showed higher theoretical efficiency but face practical limitations. Bioelectrochemical systems offer precise control but remain costly. The review identifies metabolic engineering and hybrid system integration as key strategies for advancing economically viable biohydrogen production at scale.
Abstract
Biological hydrogen (Bio-H₂) production is increasingly recognized as a key pathway for sustainable energy transition and circular resource utilization. This review presents a comprehensive and comparative synthesis of the three principal biological hydrogen production routes: dark fermentation (DF), photo-driven processes (biophotolysis and photo-fermentation), and bioelectrochemical systems (BESs), including microbial electrolysis and MFC-integrated configurations. The analysis systematically evaluates metabolic pathways, reactor configurations, operational parameters, and performance indicators to establish a unified framework for assessing technological progress and scalability. Among the reviewed pathways, DF emerges as the most technologically mature and operationally robust approach due to its high production rates, process simplicity, and compatibility with diverse organic wastes, with reported yields reaching up to 3.9 mol H2/mol glucose. Photo-driven systems offer higher theoretical conversion efficiencies and potential for direct solar-to-hydrogen integration, but their practical implementation remains constrained by light utilization, oxygen sensitivity, and process control complexity. Bioelectrochemical technologies provide improved electron recovery and enhanced process controllability, enabling higher resource recovery efficiencies, although their large-scale deployment is still limited by material costs and system optimization challenges. The review further identifies key performance determinants, including substrate characteristics, microbial interactions, environmental conditions, and reactor design, and highlights emerging strategies such as metabolic engineering, hybrid system integration, and process intensification. By providing a comparative performance perspective and identifying critical research gaps, this work offers strategic guidance for advancing biohydrogen technologies toward economically viable and scalable real-world applications.