Biohydrogen Production From Lignocellulosic Biomass Using Escherichia coli

A rising emphasis is being placed on switching to renewable energy options with less impact on the environment, given the growing environmental issues linked to nonrenewable energy sources. The importance of biohydrogen as a sustainable, clean energy source made from organic materials is highlighted by this change. This study investigates a novel method for producing biohydrogen through dark fermentation using commonly available and sustainable feedstock: paper and cardboard waste from our surroundings. To break down the complex structure and make the material easier for microbes to digest, lignocellulose-rich materials (paper and cardboard) were first treated to improve bioconversion efficiency by fungal and acid hydrolysis methods (using Trametes versicolor and H₂SO₄, respectively). In the next stage, Escherichia coli was used to produce hydrogen by taking advantage of its metabolic formate pathway. The degradation of waste materials for biohydrogen production not only provides a sustainable energy source but also helps reduce waste and promotes environmental sustainability. In this study, we aimed to discover which is more suitable, paper or cardboard, and which treatment is better, acid or fungal, and this paper describes a clear-cut answer to our question. Results show that homogeneous cardboard, acid-treated paper, and fungal-treated paper and cardboard are the best substrates to work with, and fungal treatment is much more efficient than acid treatment.