ABSTRACT

The investigations of photosynthetic hydrogen production by microalgae aimed at the formation of alternative bioenergetics are reviewed. Data on the mechanisms of Cyanophyta (= Cyanobacteria) blue-green and unicellular green microalgae hydrogen production and the enzymes catalyzing this process are given. The ability to produce hydrogen in different amounts is developed in the process of adaptation of microalgal cultures to stress conditions. Factors stimulating the output of hydrogen, in particular, the influence of modes of illumination, the addition of respiratory substrates, reducing agents, inhibitors of electron transport, as well as the results of molecular H₂ photoproduction by strains of IBASU-B collection are analyzed. Prospects for the use of microalgae as transformers of solar energy in molecular hydrogen are discussed.