Bioconversion of Lignocellulosic Residues
into Hydrogen
Pravin D. Patil, Manishkumar S. Tiwari, Vivek P. Bhange,
Deepali T. Marghade, and Saravana Kumaran
Abstract
The development of a clean energy alternative is a crucial
aspect of current scientific research concerning the
ever-growing surge in demand for energy. The use of
traditional sources (fossil sources) for energy generation
has raised critical climate issues that are threatening human
life on the planet earth. In order to sustain energy demand,
hydrogen has emerged as an assuring energy alternative.
Recently, biohydrogen gas production from renewable
sources has received significant attention. Lignocellulose
biomass is one such potential renewable source that can be
employed to generate energy, fuel, and value-added
chemicals. Biohydrogen generated from lignocellulosic
biomass is a clean, efficient, environment-friendly fuel and
has no harmful emissions. However, the utilization of
lignocellulose is still challenging due to their complex
structures. Researchers around the globe are exploring
various aspects affecting the process of biohydrogen
production using lignocellulosic biomass while making
the process sustainable. The current chapter presents an
overview of bioconversion of lignocellulosic residue to
hydrogen along with potential pretreatments. A systematic
approach for efficient H 2 production and factors affecting
the hydrogen generation are comprehensively discussed.
Further, the current challenges and opportunities concerning hydrogen production via lignocellulosic biomass
bioconversion are also discussed.
Keywords
Pretreatment Á Biomass Á Lignin Á Cellulose Á
Lignocellulosic residues Á Lignocellulose bioconversion Á
Biohydrogen Á Lignocelluloses-to-H 2
1 Introduction
An overgrowing demand for energy and mounting concern
over climate change has begun a quest for clean alternative
energy sources. Lignocellulosic biomass is one such
promising candidate that could be used as an efficient and
environment-friendly source. Lignocellulose is the main
constituent of biomass, comprising half of it produced by
photosynthesis and mainly contains lignin, hemicellulose,
and cellulose (Ren et al. 2009). The stockpile of agricultural
or agro-industrial waste accumulates lignocellulose in massive amounts creating a disposal issue while deteriorating the
surrounding environment. The abundant availability of raw
material from hard and softwood, grasses (e.g., switchgrass),
forest (e.g., sawdust, thinning, and mill waste), and
agro-wastes (e.g., corn stover, and wheat straw) makes it a
desirable source for the production of biofuel, valued
industrial products, paper manufacturing, composting, and
for feeding livestock (Elgharbawy et al. 2016; Ren et al.
2009; Gawade et al. 2016; Molleti et al. 2018; Tiwari et al.
2017, 2020). In order to strengthen energy security and
lower dependency on fossil fuels, hydrogen has emerged and
proved to be an assuring energy alternative. In recent, significant attention has been focused on biohydrogen gas
production from renewable sources. Hydrogen is an
energy-dense alternative, which is an established transport
P. D. Patil (&)
Department of Basic Science and Humanities, Mukesh Patel
School of Technology Management and Engineering, SVKM’s
NMIMS University, Mumbai, 400056, Maharashtra, India
e-mail: pravinpbt@gmail.com; pravin.patil@nmims.edu
P. D. Patil Á V. P. Bhange
Department of Biotechnology, Priyadarshini Institute of
Engineering and Technology, Nagpur, 440019, Maharashtra, India
M. S. Tiwari Á S. Kumaran
Department of Chemical Engineering, Mukesh Patel School of
Technology Management and Engineering, SVKM’s NMIMS
University, Mumbai, 400056, Maharashtra, India
D. T. Marghade
Department of Applied Chemistry, Priyadarshini Institute of
Engineering and Technology, 8, Nagpur, 440019,
Maharashtra, India
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Inamuddin and A. Khan (eds.), Sustainable Bioconversion of Waste to Value Added Products, Advances in Science,
Technology & Innovation, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61837-7_4
59
into Hydrogen
Pravin D. Patil, Manishkumar S. Tiwari, Vivek P. Bhange,
Deepali T. Marghade, and Saravana Kumaran
Abstract
The development of a clean energy alternative is a crucial
aspect of current scientific research concerning the
ever-growing surge in demand for energy. The use of
traditional sources (fossil sources) for energy generation
has raised critical climate issues that are threatening human
life on the planet earth. In order to sustain energy demand,
hydrogen has emerged as an assuring energy alternative.
Recently, biohydrogen gas production from renewable
sources has received significant attention. Lignocellulose
biomass is one such potential renewable source that can be
employed to generate energy, fuel, and value-added
chemicals. Biohydrogen generated from lignocellulosic
biomass is a clean, efficient, environment-friendly fuel and
has no harmful emissions. However, the utilization of
lignocellulose is still challenging due to their complex
structures. Researchers around the globe are exploring
various aspects affecting the process of biohydrogen
production using lignocellulosic biomass while making
the process sustainable. The current chapter presents an
overview of bioconversion of lignocellulosic residue to
hydrogen along with potential pretreatments. A systematic
approach for efficient H 2 production and factors affecting
the hydrogen generation are comprehensively discussed.
Further, the current challenges and opportunities concerning hydrogen production via lignocellulosic biomass
bioconversion are also discussed.
Keywords
Pretreatment Á Biomass Á Lignin Á Cellulose Á
Lignocellulosic residues Á Lignocellulose bioconversion Á
Biohydrogen Á Lignocelluloses-to-H 2
1 Introduction
An overgrowing demand for energy and mounting concern
over climate change has begun a quest for clean alternative
energy sources. Lignocellulosic biomass is one such
promising candidate that could be used as an efficient and
environment-friendly source. Lignocellulose is the main
constituent of biomass, comprising half of it produced by
photosynthesis and mainly contains lignin, hemicellulose,
and cellulose (Ren et al. 2009). The stockpile of agricultural
or agro-industrial waste accumulates lignocellulose in massive amounts creating a disposal issue while deteriorating the
surrounding environment. The abundant availability of raw
material from hard and softwood, grasses (e.g., switchgrass),
forest (e.g., sawdust, thinning, and mill waste), and
agro-wastes (e.g., corn stover, and wheat straw) makes it a
desirable source for the production of biofuel, valued
industrial products, paper manufacturing, composting, and
for feeding livestock (Elgharbawy et al. 2016; Ren et al.
2009; Gawade et al. 2016; Molleti et al. 2018; Tiwari et al.
2017, 2020). In order to strengthen energy security and
lower dependency on fossil fuels, hydrogen has emerged and
proved to be an assuring energy alternative. In recent, significant attention has been focused on biohydrogen gas
production from renewable sources. Hydrogen is an
energy-dense alternative, which is an established transport
P. D. Patil (&)
Department of Basic Science and Humanities, Mukesh Patel
School of Technology Management and Engineering, SVKM’s
NMIMS University, Mumbai, 400056, Maharashtra, India
e-mail: pravinpbt@gmail.com; pravin.patil@nmims.edu
P. D. Patil Á V. P. Bhange
Department of Biotechnology, Priyadarshini Institute of
Engineering and Technology, Nagpur, 440019, Maharashtra, India
M. S. Tiwari Á S. Kumaran
Department of Chemical Engineering, Mukesh Patel School of
Technology Management and Engineering, SVKM’s NMIMS
University, Mumbai, 400056, Maharashtra, India
D. T. Marghade
Department of Applied Chemistry, Priyadarshini Institute of
Engineering and Technology, 8, Nagpur, 440019,
Maharashtra, India
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
Inamuddin and A. Khan (eds.), Sustainable Bioconversion of Waste to Value Added Products, Advances in Science,
Technology & Innovation, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61837-7_4
59