ABSTRACT
Biohydrogen (BioH2) production using lignocellulosic biomass has been extensively studied at laboratory scale. Localized availability of suitable feedstocks, their pretreatment costs, and lower rates of BioH2 production make the industrial operation uneconomical. Several thermophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms can produce elevated levels of H2 (~4 mol H2/mol glucose) through the dark fermentation process. Decentralized thermophilic BioH2 production in a single-step, consolidated process is desirable for successful industrial operation. In addition to lignocellulosic biomass, food wastes, and industrial effluents have been projected as economical substrates for H2 production. Using these inexpensive and easily available substrates, the concept of ‘waste to energy’ can be achieved. There is, however, a lack of successful case studies of long-term industrial operations producing BioH2. This chapter focuses on the need for BioH2 production using thermophiles at realistic, commercial scales. Issues related to studying scale up requirements are discussed, together with goals for successful, industrial-scale production of BioH2.
