How Close We Are to Achieving Commercially Viable  Large-Scale Photobiological Hydrogen Production by Cyanobacteria: A Review of the Biological Aspects

The OCU Advanced Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology (OCARINA), Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan

Department of Biological Sciences, Kanagawa University, Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Japan

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Academic Editors: John C. Meeks and Robert Haselkorn

Life 2015, 5(1), 997-1018; https://doi.org/10.3390/life5010997

Received: 5 January 2015 / Revised: 16 February 2015 / Accepted: 9 March 2015 / Published: 18 March 2015

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cyanobacteria: Ecology, Physiology and Genetics)

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Abstract

Photobiological production of H₂ by cyanobacteria is considered to be an ideal source of renewable energy because the inputs, water and sunlight, are abundant. The products of photobiological systems are H₂ and O₂; the H₂ can be used as the energy source of fuel cells, etc., which generate electricity at high efficiencies and minimal pollution, as the waste product is H₂O. Overall, production of commercially viable algal fuels in any form, including biomass and biodiesel, is challenging, and the very few systems that are operational have yet to be evaluated. In this paper we will: briefly review some of the necessary conditions for economical production, summarize the reports of photobiological H₂ production by cyanobacteria, present our schemes for future production, and discuss the necessity for further progress in the research needed to achieve commercially viable large-scale H₂ production. View Full-Text

Keywords: cyanobacteria; hydrogen; photosynthesis; nitrogenase; heterocyst; renewable energy; mariculture

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MDPI and ACS Style

Sakurai, H.; Masukawa, H.; Kitashima, M.; Inoue, K. How Close We Are to Achieving Commercially Viable Large-Scale Photobiological Hydrogen Production by Cyanobacteria: A Review of the Biological Aspects. Life 2015, 5, 997-1018. https://doi.org/10.3390/life5010997

AMA Style

Sakurai H, Masukawa H, Kitashima M, Inoue K. How Close We Are to Achieving Commercially Viable Large-Scale Photobiological Hydrogen Production by Cyanobacteria: A Review of the Biological Aspects. Life. 2015; 5(1):997-1018. https://doi.org/10.3390/life5010997

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sakurai, Hidehiro, Hajime Masukawa, Masaharu Kitashima, and Kazuhito Inoue. 2015. "How Close We Are to Achieving Commercially Viable Large-Scale Photobiological Hydrogen Production by Cyanobacteria: A Review of the Biological Aspects" Life 5, no. 1: 997-1018. https://doi.org/10.3390/life5010997

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How Close We Are to Achieving Commercially Viable Large-Scale Photobiological Hydrogen Production by Cyanobacteria: A Review of the Biological Aspects

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