Boosting Biohydrogen Production with Green Nanoparticles

Biohydrogen (Bio-H₂) is a clean energy source, but making it pure is tricky. Tiny organisms called hydrogenotrophic methanogens can mess it up. Scientists have tried different ways to stop these organisms, but often, these methods hurt the good bacteria that make hydrogen. Now, researchers have found a new way to boost Bio-H₂ production using special nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are made from vegetable leaves and doped with magnetite (Fe₃O₄). They are tiny, with a diameter of about 100 nm and a crystal size of 38. 1 nm. The best part? They are very pure. When added to a system that combines dark fermentation and microbial electrohydrogenesis, these nanoparticles show promising results. Tests were done with different amounts of nanoparticles. The sweet spot was found at 500 mg/L, which increased Bio-H₂ production by 1. 2 times compared to the control group. Even a small dose of 25 mg/L showed a 0. 22-fold increase. This means these nanoparticles can significantly enhance hydrogen production. The researchers also looked at gene expression. They found a 30-fold increase in the Fe-Fe hydrogenase gene and a 23-fold increase in the Ni-Fe hydrogenase gene. This shows that the nanoparticles activate the enzymes responsible for hydrogen production. Additionally, the abundance of hydrogen-producing bacteria like Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_11 increased by 14. 3% and 11. 1%, respectively, compared to the control group. This research suggests that using these green nanoparticles is an eco-friendly way to boost biohydrogen production. It supports the idea of sustainable bioenergy generation, which is crucial for a greener future.