AUTHOR=Mandalika Anurag S. , Chou Katherine J. , Decker Stephen R. 

TITLE=Biohydrogen: prospects for industrial utilization and energy resiliency in rural communities

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Industrial Microbiology

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/industrial-microbiology/articles/10.3389/finmi.2024.1428686

DOI=10.3389/finmi.2024.1428686

ISSN=2813-7809

ABSTRACT=<p>Biohydrogen (bioH<sub>2</sub>) production in rural regions of the United States leveraged from existing biomass waste streams serves two extant needs: rural energy resiliency and decarbonization of heavy industry, including the production of ammonia and other H<sub>2</sub>-dependent nitrogenous products. We consider bioH<sub>2</sub> production using two different strategies: (1) dark fermentation (DF) and (2) anaerobic digestion followed by steam methane reforming of the biogas (AD-SMR). Production of bioH<sub>2</sub> from biomass waste streams is a potentially ‘greener’ pathway in comparison to natural gas-steam methane reforming (NG-SMR), especially as fugitive emissions from these wastes are avoided. It also provides a decarbonizing potential not found in water-splitting technologies. Based on literature on DF and AD of crop residues, woody biomass residues from forestry wastes, and wastewaters containing fats, oils, and grease (FOG), we outline scenarios for bioH<sub>2</sub> production and displacement of fossil fuel derived methane. Finally, we compare the costs and carbon intensity (CI) of bioH<sub>2</sub> production with those of other H<sub>2</sub> production pathways.</p>