Suphi S. Oncel

Biohydrogen from Microalgae, Uniting Energy, Life, and Green Future

Abstract Progress in the understanding of microalgae metabolism, routes for biohydrogen production, has been introduced in the literature as a renewable and sustainable green fuel alternative. In the global energy market, the current capacity of biohydrogen production via microalgae looks negligible when compared to other production strategies; however, it has a great potential, but this requires further technological development. This chapter focuses on the state of the art of biohydrogen production from microalgae with a special emphasis on the theory, technology, economy, and ethical issues.

Genetic Optimization of Microalgae for Biohydrogen Production

Abstract Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier that has an important share in the global energy market when produced in conventional ways. Today, most hydrogen production depends on thermochemical processes of fossil sources. The promising search for renewable and sustainable energy to compete with or support fossil fuels has opened a new era for hydrogen production from biological sources. Hydrogen, as an emission-free gas with high gravimetric energy gas, has encouraged studies to investigate new production strategies from living microorganisms. This chapter discusses the scope of the genetic optimization of microalgae for biohydrogen production, using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model organism.

From the Ancient Tribes to Modern Societies, Microalgae Evolution from a Simple Food to an Alternative Fuel Source

Abstract Photosynthesis, the mechanism responsible for O2 evolution on Earth, is also a critical instrument for fuel of the future. Observations on algal biotechnology, and tracing back algae utilization to ancient tribes, give key clues to the development of new-generation biofuels. Microalgae as a promising photosynthetic “farm” have numerous aspects from foods to medicines to biofuels. The starting point of algal biofuels also comes from the awareness of the requirement for a better source. Conventional fossil fuels are argued to be depleting and alternative biofuels are discussed to be competitive and promising in real case leaving possible scenarios. With this knowledge, tracing the historical development of microalgal biofuels in the scope of photosynthesis, production technologies, possible biofuel types, and genetic engineering tools as a relatively new concept have been discussed and highlighted in this chapter. Also the global projects and their contribution to the literature are pointed out to observe logical results for the development of microalgal biofuels.

Biohydrogen Production from Microalgae: An Enzyme Perspective

Biological hydrogen production from microbial origins especially from microalgal species has been an attractive source for the world to compensate the extreme fuel consumption of civilized population. The attribution of biohydrogen production is thought to be effective on macroscale considering global energy market; however there exist lots of biochemical reactions in a single cell to produce hydrogen. From this point of view, the aim of this chapter is to highlight the enzymes responsible for biohydrogen production in microalgae and to discuss enzymatic reactions focusing on cell dynamics, metabolism, structure, function, and challenges regarding sustainable biohydrogen production.