Microbial pathways for sustainable hydrogen production

Hydrogen (H₂) is a sustainable energy carrier with significant potential for use in transportation and power generation. This review focuses on microbial pathways for hydrogen production, specifically photosynthesis and fermentation processes. Bacteria and microalgae are identified as key contributors to biohydrogen production. Recent findings demonstrate that microbial electrolysis cells can achieve hydrogen yields of up to 11.4 mmol/h, while photofermentation methods produce up to 1287 mL H₂ per gram of total organic carbon (TOC). Advances in microbial genetic engineering and reactor design offer significant potential for scaling biohydrogen production. Future research must address challenges related to efficiency, cost, and scalability to enable broader industrial adoption.