A research team, led by Professor JeonByong-hun from the Department of Environmental Engineering at Yonsei’sWonju Campus, recently published an article in Nature Communications.  The results of the research, which appeared February 4 under the title “Photoautotrophic hydrogen production by eukaryotic microalgae under aerobic conditions,” prove that certain new strains of microalgae can produce hydrogen under atmospheric conditions, something that was thought to be unfeasible (previously, it was widely accepted that algae and cyanobacteria only produce hydrogen under anaerobic and limited aerobic conditions). 
Professor Jeon’s ongoing research, which is supported by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), and the YonseiCenter for Eco-Smart Waterworks System, promises to have a number of important applications in terms of ecological engineering—such as removing algal blooms and innovating sewage treatment procedures—and clean, hydrogen energy production.  According to Professor Jeon:  “While the amount of hydrogen produced is small, the fact that hydrogenase [an enzyme that converts protons into hydrogen molecules] was discovered in eukaryotic microalgae suggests a potential source of clean energy.  It also marks a step forward in terms of applied science research into producing hydrogen. My research in this area will continue with an eye towards the hydrogen economy of tomorrow.”