ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an improved technology to produce hydrogen biologically will be discussed as a source of clean energy. The effects of light on nitrogenase mediated hydrogen production by most types of cyanobacteria are well studied. The reactor for photobiological hydrogen production that was used met two conditions: The vertical column reactor consists of a transparent column usually composed of high quality glass and surrounded by a water jacket. The reactor is autoclaved prior to cyanobacterial cultivation and hydrogen production. The most appealing aspect of biological hydrogen production is the simplicity of this technology, using nothing but photons, water and cyanobacterial biochemical reactions. As sunlight is abundant, our insight into light conversion and hydrogen production by cyanobacteria is essential for creating renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. Biomechanisms and photochemical reactions achieve high rates of hydrogen production, thus providing environmentally benign energy.
