Energy

Production from biomass

With regard to the production of hydrogen from biomass, no process has yet reached a mature level from an industrial point of view. One of the most used techniques to obtain hydrogen from biomass is pyrolysis, that is a process based on thermal decomposition, which breaks complex molecules of organic substances into simple and separate elements. Pyrolysis consists of heating the substance at 900-1000°C, in the absence of air, with adequate equipment, in order to obtain volatile substances and a solid residue. Very small organisms, called photosynthetic micro-organisms, produce hydrogen with the aid of solar energy. Many researchers are now trying to understand how it is possible to obtain quite large quantities of hydrogen by using these micro-organisms. This is called photo-biological technique, and it is based on the use of solar energy combined with biological systems like algae, micro-organisms, organic waste. In particular, the studies are involving genetic engineering in order to optimise hydrogen production with the use of photosynthetic micro-organisms. Some researchers are testing the production of hydrogen from “wet waste”, or waste water of food-processes through anaerobic bioreactors, which exploit fermentation phenomena: these techniques are called biochemical techniques. This is a promising technology and, even thought it is still at an experimental stage, researchers think they will be able to obtain commercial systems in the medium-short term. All the above-mentioned alternatives require a significant commitment to research, development and demonstration, even if at different levels. However, they are all promising alternatives, also considering the different materials that need to be used.