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Hydrogen (H 2) is pivotal to phasing out fossil fuel-based energy systems. It can be produced from different sources and using different technologies. Very few studies comprehensively discuss all available state-of-the-art technologies for H 2 production, the challenges facing each process, and their economic feasibility and sustainability. The current study thus addresses these gaps to effectively direct future research towards improving H 2 production techniques. Many conventional methods contribute to large greenhouse gas footprints, with high production costs and low efficiency. Steam methane reforming and coal gasification dominate the supply side of H 2 , due to their low production costs (<$3.50/kg). Water-splitting offers one of the most environmentally benign production methods when integrated with renewable energy sources. However, it is considerably expensive and ridden with the flaw of production of harmful by-products that affect efficiency. Fossil fuel processing technologies remain one of the most efficient forms of H 2 production sources, with yields exceeding 80% and reaching up to 100%, with the lowest cost despite their high reliance on expensive catalysts. Whereas solar-driven power systems cost slightly less than $10 kg−1, coal gasification and steam reforming cost below $3.05 kg−1. Future research thus needs to be directed towards cost reduction of renewable energy-based H 2 production systems, as well as in their decarbonization and designing more robust H 2 storage systems that are compatible with long-distance distribution networks with adequate fuelling stations. • H 2 production technologies, their economic feasibility and sustainability are reviewed. • Low-cost steam methane reforming and coal gasification dominate the supply side of H 2. • Water-splitting coupled with renewable sources offers one of the most eco-friendly methods. • Future research should focus on decarbonizing and lowering renewable H 2 production cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae originating from wastewater has been exhibiting particularly promising results in terms of biohydrogen production and wastewater treatment. This paper aims to review the factors affecting production, pretreatment techniques to improve synthesis, advanced technologies utilized for enhancing biohydrogen production, and techno-economic feasibility evaluation of the processes at a commercial scale. Microalgae possess metabolic components to synthesize biohydrogen using photobiological and fermentative processes but must undergo pretreatment for efficient biohydrogen production. The efficiency of these processes is influenced by factors such as the microalgae species, light intensity, cell density, pH, temperature, substrates, and the type of bioreactors. Moreover, many limitations, such as oxygen sensitivity, altered thylakoid constitution, low photon conversion efficiency, light capture disruption, and the evolution of harmful by-products hinder the sustainability of biohydrogen production processes. High operational and maintenance costs serve as the major bottleneck in the scaling up of the process as an industrial technology. Therefore, future research needs to be directed towards increasing optimization of the processes by reducing energy and resource demand, recycling metabolic wastes and process components, genetically engineered microalgae to adopt more efficient routes, and conducting pilot studies for commercialization. • Wastewater-based microalgae is a potential source of biohydrogen. • Factors affecting the biohydrogen production from microalgal biomass are discussed. • Technologies related to biohydrogen production from microalgae are reviewed. • Key challenges of biohydrogen production process from microalgae are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of research in the carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) field has concentrated on the classification and synthesis of CNMs, with relatively few studies focusing on CNMs' roles in photocatalytic hydrogen production. CNMs have proven their potential as an effective addition to the appeal of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution because of their superior chemical and physical properties. This paper explores the recent advancements in photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2) production utilizing CNMs. As evidenced in the literature, carbon quantum dot (CQD)-sensitized titanium dioxide (TiO 2) can demonstrate to have a photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity of 472 mol g−1 h−1 and 1458 mol g−1 h−1 without and with loading metal co-catalyst (Pt). The optimum catalyst, 0.4 CQD/CdS, contributes to the highest H 2 production rate of 309 mmol g−1 h−1 (apparent quantum yield of 32.6%), which is 1.5 times greater than that of bare CdS. This would significantly accelerate the hydrogen production process. There are still challenges to reaching maximum photocatalytic hydrogen production, including low hydrogen storage. The overall price of hydrogen produced via photocatalysis is also higher because of the energy needed to store the hydrogen. Even though the problem is not directly related to the usage of CNMs, this restriction generates uncertainty and limits commercial investment. Given the rising demand for energy and the trend toward green power, it is recommended that extensive industrial uses of photocatalytic hydrogen produced by employing CNMs be investigated for better and more sustainable energy frameworks. • Recent advances in photocatalytic H 2 production are investigated utilizing CNMs. • The optimum catalyst, 0.4 CQD/CdS can produce the highest H 2 at 309 mmol g−1 h−1. • CQD-sensitized TiO 2 can generate 1458 mol g−1 h−1 photocatalytic hydrogen with Pt. • Photocatalytic H 2 production using CNMs should be investigated for industrial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study is to identify the potential of energy-efficient hydrogen (H 2) production from date seeds as biomass via steam gasification process along with heat integration in Gulf countries. A reaction kinetics model has been established for steam gasification with in-situ carbon dioxide (CO 2) capture of date seeds using MATLAB software. The kinetics of reactions involved in the gasification process was calculated using the optimization parameters fitting approach. The heat integration model has been developed via mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) in MATLAB. In the parametric study, temperature and steam/biomass ratio considered their impact on syngas composition and energy recovery. Results showed that both variables have a strong positive effect on H 2 production and depicted maximum production of 68 mol% at a temperature of 750 °C with steam/biomass ratio of 1.2. Methane (CH 4) and CO 2 production were low in the product gas, which showed the activity of water gas shift reaction, methanation reaction, and carbonation reaction. Utilization of waste heat via process heat integration within the system reduced system's external heat load. More than 70% of energy recovered, which could be utilized for gasification and steam production. Energy analysis and process heat integration proved a prospective approach for energy-efficient and sustainable hydrogen production from date seeds. [Display omitted] • Reaction kinetic model developed for the steam gasification of date seeds. • Kinetics of reactions calculated using parameters fitting approach. • Heat integration model developed via mixed-integer non-linear programming. • Energy analysis and process heat integration carried out for the heat recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]