Bioelectrochemical Production of Hydrogen from Organic Waste

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical hydrogen production is a new technology that uses electrochemically active bacteria under an applied voltage to convert organic matter into hydrogen. This technology is generally referred to as a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). MECs have gained attention as a novel alternative hydrogen production method because of their high hydrogen conversion efficiency, low energy requirement, and their applicability to many organic substrates. Consequently, the technology has been rapidly advanced. However, various technical challenges remain prior to scale-up and their practical application. This chapter deals with development of MEC technology and includes the following sections: definition and history of hydrogen production, principles and advantages, critical factors affecting MEC performance, anodic biocatalysts and technical challenges, and perspectives and outlooks of hydrogen production from organic waste.