biohydrogenation

Biohydrogenation is a chemical reaction where hydrogen is added to an element or compound, typically in the presence of a catalyst. This process can involve hydrogen simply adding to double or triple bonds within a molecule, or it can lead to the breaking apart of the molecule, a process known as hydrogenolysis.12

In biochemistry, biohydrogenation is crucial in the digestive systems of ruminant animals, where microorganisms in the rumen convert unsaturated fatty acids into saturated fatty acids. This process is also utilized in industrial applications, such as the hardening of liquid oils to produce solid fats for margarines and shortenings. Hydrogenosomes, organelles found in some eukaryotic cells, also produce hydrogen as a byproduct of energy generation under anaerobic conditions.34