How Close We Are to Achieving Commercially Viable Large-Scale Photobiological Hydrogen Production by Cyanobacteria: A Review of the Biological Aspects

Life

Hidehiro Sakurai²  Hajime Masukawa²  Masaharu Kitashima³  Kazuhito Inoue²  John C. Meeks¹ 

[1] id="af1-life-05-00997">1Research Institute for Photobiological Hydrogen Production, Kanagawa University, Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Jap;Research Institute for Photobiological Hydrogen Production, Kanagawa University, Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan;Department of Biological Sciences, Kanagawa University, Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan; E-Mails:

关键词: cyanobacteria;    hydrogen;    photosynthesis;    nitrogenase;    heterocyst;    renewable energy;    mariculture;   

DOI  :  10.3390/life5010997

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Photobiological production of H₂ by cyanobacteria is considered to be an ideal source of renewable energy because the inputs, water and sunlight, are abundant. The products of photobiological systems are H₂ and O₂; the H₂ can be used as the energy source of fuel cells, etc., which generate electricity at high efficiencies and minimal pollution, as the waste product is H₂O. Overall, production of commercially viable algal fuels in any form, including biomass and biodiesel, is challenging, and the very few systems that are operational have yet to be evaluated. In this paper we will: briefly review some of the necessary conditions for economical production, summarize the reports of photobiological H₂ production by cyanobacteria, present our schemes for future production, and discuss the necessity for further progress in the research needed to achieve commercially viable large-scale H₂ production.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.