Hydrogen from biomass: Pathways, performance, and prospects

The production of hydrogen from biomass has shown promise as a sustainable energy source. Biomass is abundant, renewable, and carbon-neutral. It can be effectively used as a feedstock for hydrogen production via a variety of conversion processes, such as thermochemical and biological routes. This article provides a comprehensive overview of common biomass-to-hydrogen pathways. These encompass biological processes such as dark fermentation and phototrophic pathways, as well as thermochemical techniques such as gasification and pyrolysis. While biological pathways enable mild operating conditions and interaction with waste treatment systems, thermochemical technologies generally offer better hydrogen yields and greater technological maturity. Important elements that affect process performance are also covered, including feedstock composition, catalyst choice, reactor design, and system integration. It includes TRL and techno assessment analysis along with the merits and demerits of the techniques used for hydrogen production.