These feedstocks in particular are small rotational coppices (poplar, willow, and
eucalyptus) and some herbaceous lignocellulosic crops (canary reed, miscanthus,
and switchgrass) (Shashi et al. 2018). For an alternative, fairly dehydrated waste like
wood pieces, wood debris, and industrial refuse could be taken as fuel. Microbial
fermentation is primarily used to treat water-containing biomass including sewage
sludge, livestock effluents, and agricultural and animal wastes. Agricultural and
forestry wastes, as well as industrial effluents from sources such as the pulp/paper
and food industries, are predominantly made up of lignocellulosic content that can
provide an inexpensive, environmentally sustainable way of generating renewable
hydrogen (Shashi et al. 2018).
4.3 Definition and Need of Biohydrogen
Hydrogen gas which is advised as one of the most important energy carriers is much
needed for main electrical generator cooling in all modern Central Electricity
Generating Board power stations, for the production of methane gas on nuclear
AGR stations, and, among other things, for the control of oxygen in the reactor
coolant on nuclear PWR stations (Reynolds 2013). This is used as an alternative as
this gas has high energy density and it does not emit any GHG after combustion
process. Moreover, the biological synthesis can be carried out under mild temperatures and does not require fossil fuel to initiate the process. Earlier the hydrogen was
synthesized with the help of fossil fuels by thermochemical method, but this affects
the environment and creates pollution. In this context, we discuss about the biological source which can produce hydrogen. This source can be a promising raw
material for the synthesis. This hydrogen is known as biohydrogen (Ramakodi
2019). The key in biohydrogen research is the correct determination and usage of
suitable inoculums or consortia for the production. Increasing the demand of energy
resulted in the steep increases in the utilization of fossil fuel. As a result of this, there
is a huge increase in the release of GHG to the atmosphere. So the research in the
production of biohydrogen is the most important as it is an ecofriendly sustainable
approach (Ghimire et al. 2015). This biohydrogen is a natural by-product of different
reaction processes which are impelled by microorganisms. Production of hydrogen
gas in a sustainable way is considered as biohydrogen due to the usage of biomass as
substrate (Mohan and Pandey 2019).
4.4 How Safe Is Hydrogen
Hydrogen is non-toxic and much lighter than air, dissipating rapidly when released,
allowing the fuel to spread fairly quickly in the event of leakage, making it
comparatively safer than other spilt fuels. The main safety issue is that if a leak is
not detected, and the gas collects in a confined space, it can eventually ignite and
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L. Gangadhar et al.
eucalyptus) and some herbaceous lignocellulosic crops (canary reed, miscanthus,
and switchgrass) (Shashi et al. 2018). For an alternative, fairly dehydrated waste like
wood pieces, wood debris, and industrial refuse could be taken as fuel. Microbial
fermentation is primarily used to treat water-containing biomass including sewage
sludge, livestock effluents, and agricultural and animal wastes. Agricultural and
forestry wastes, as well as industrial effluents from sources such as the pulp/paper
and food industries, are predominantly made up of lignocellulosic content that can
provide an inexpensive, environmentally sustainable way of generating renewable
hydrogen (Shashi et al. 2018).
4.3 Definition and Need of Biohydrogen
Hydrogen gas which is advised as one of the most important energy carriers is much
needed for main electrical generator cooling in all modern Central Electricity
Generating Board power stations, for the production of methane gas on nuclear
AGR stations, and, among other things, for the control of oxygen in the reactor
coolant on nuclear PWR stations (Reynolds 2013). This is used as an alternative as
this gas has high energy density and it does not emit any GHG after combustion
process. Moreover, the biological synthesis can be carried out under mild temperatures and does not require fossil fuel to initiate the process. Earlier the hydrogen was
synthesized with the help of fossil fuels by thermochemical method, but this affects
the environment and creates pollution. In this context, we discuss about the biological source which can produce hydrogen. This source can be a promising raw
material for the synthesis. This hydrogen is known as biohydrogen (Ramakodi
2019). The key in biohydrogen research is the correct determination and usage of
suitable inoculums or consortia for the production. Increasing the demand of energy
resulted in the steep increases in the utilization of fossil fuel. As a result of this, there
is a huge increase in the release of GHG to the atmosphere. So the research in the
production of biohydrogen is the most important as it is an ecofriendly sustainable
approach (Ghimire et al. 2015). This biohydrogen is a natural by-product of different
reaction processes which are impelled by microorganisms. Production of hydrogen
gas in a sustainable way is considered as biohydrogen due to the usage of biomass as
substrate (Mohan and Pandey 2019).
4.4 How Safe Is Hydrogen
Hydrogen is non-toxic and much lighter than air, dissipating rapidly when released,
allowing the fuel to spread fairly quickly in the event of leakage, making it
comparatively safer than other spilt fuels. The main safety issue is that if a leak is
not detected, and the gas collects in a confined space, it can eventually ignite and
82
L. Gangadhar et al.