New hydrogen production method could reduce need for fossil fuels
January 6, 2009
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have created an entirely natural and renewable method for producing hydrogen to generate electricity which could drastically reduce the dependency on fossil fuels in the future.
The breakthrough means ethanol which comes from the fermentation of crops can be completely converted to hydrogen and carbon dioxide for the first time.
The hydrogen generated would be used to power fuel cells - devices which convert fuels into electricity directly without the need for combustion.
The new method - which has the potential to be used to power homes, buildings and cars in the future - is the result of a 10 year collaboration project between scientists from the University of Aberdeen alongside international partner laboratories.
Over 90% of the hydrogen currently generated across the globe is made using natural gas found in fossils fuels.
The main concern with this method is the generation of large amounts of carbon dioxide increasing the risk of global warming.
This new production method uses ethanol which is produced by the fermentation of crops and is therefore carbon neutral meaning any carbon dioxide produced is assimilated back into the environment and used by plants to grow.
Professor Hicham Idriss, Energy Futures Chair at the University of Aberdeen who has led the study said: "We have successfully created the first stable catalyst which can generate hydrogen using ethanol produced from crop fermentation at realistic conditions.
"Moreover, hydrogen generated using this method is very clean and therefore suitable for fuel cells because it also converts all carbon monoxide, which is poisonous, generated in the process to carbon dioxide at the same time.
"The catalyst is made of very small nanoparticles of metals deposited on larger nanoparticles of a support called cerium oxide which is also used in catalytic converters in cars. At present the generation of hydrogen needed to power a mid size fuel cell can be achieved using 1 Kg of this catalyst.
"As with traditional methods of hydrogen production, carbon dioxide is still created during the process we have developed. However unlike fossil fuels which are underground we are using ethanol generated from an above the ground source - plants or crops. This means that any carbon dioxide created during the process is assimilated back into the environment and is then used by plants as part of their natural cycle of growth.
"It's quite feasible that we could see the use of this new type of catalysts to generate the hydrogen used in the UK in the future if the necessary changes to public policy were implemented."
The work is published in the new journal devoted to sustainable chemical reactions: ChemSusChem, vol 1, 905 (2008).
Provided by University of Aberdeen
Aug 05, 2009 |
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..HH
HCCOH
..HH
then in the HH coming from it.
The 1 Kg of catalyst probably needs a heatsink.
And if the ethanol comes from crops, then the crops took the CO2 from the air. THis process just puts that CO2 back. Net CO2 emission is indeed 0.
This is another 3rd year student trying to get a first for the third year project as are many other so called research claims.
Many of you seem to have missed THIS point...we are going to need Hydrogen sources to feed the fuel-cells which WILL be powering our electric vehicles (like it or not)...now get with the program, and stop talking about IC engines which will all but disappear within the next half-century. The days of using fire for locomotion are coming to an end ladies.
With all of the inefficiencies involved we would be better off building expensive PV cells and covering the agricultural land with them to generate electricity to charge expensive batteries in vehicles.
Not accurate. Plants take up carbon from the ground as well as multiple trace elements that are toxic when burned. Ethanol is actually dirtier than gasoline in terms of emmisions.
Secondly,
Where do you think fossil fuels come from?
Realistically you can achieve the exact same effect as this system by continuing the use of fossil fuels and planting more trees.
That is, until you run out of fossil fuels. The only thing this system produces is local energy independence. If you have the land to grow the ethanol crop then you have energy independence.
http://www.thoriumpower.com/
tkjtkj.physorg@gmail.com
Many countries have the land and sunlight and water but it is currently covered in rain forest. These countries are currently cutting down those forests for pasture or timber or other temporary uses which has a detrimental effect on local diversity of both flora an d fauna.
Yes it may be CO2 neutral but a little deficit here is not all that bad for those with the correct resources. Think of a country with a poor balance of trade and no coal,oil or gas and they will still want to move into the modern age so they will need fuel of some kind.
Solar panels are OK for some situations but not very portable. Ethanol and petrol can be shipped around and converted to fuel where they are needed. they are both a lot easier to store than Hydrogen or electricity for any length of time.
Nuclear power may be a competitive alternative when small scale self contained plants become common place. However, the smallest scale nuclear plant will probably still be big enough for a small suburb or a medium sized factory but for smaller scale than that we will still need alternatives.
I am going to sell this idea in glossy ads and get more people to get more land into production!
The future makes so much sense!! Thanks Physorg for this article!
> Tracking CPV (>35% efficiency) in sunny deserts (e.g. Sahara)100-150Watts(electricity)/sq-m
> Field crops for biofuels less than 1W/sq-m, BEFORE processing and conversion
> Egypt/Sahara daily sunfall ~= 6.5KWh (270W/sq-m average)
BEV's >= 80% efficient (tank to wheel)
I suggest all those in favour of the hydrogen economy take a look back at article "Why a hydrogen economy doesn't make sense" PhysOrg 11th Dec 06. http://www.physor...html(and by the way ignore posting by Wooly)
I do believe you meant "disillusioned"
While I agree with all of your points, if we are going to build that many nuclear power plants, we will have more than sufficient electricity for powering electric cars without the need to convert water into hydrogen.
It is the only logical choice, despite the storage and distribution challenges. If we could do it for gasoline and diesel, then we can definitely also do it for Hydrogen!
Besides, with battery technology being what it is today, or in the foreseeable future, there's no way for us to obtain the vehicle-autonomy figures we've all gotten used to using petroleum, without a secondary power-source on-board to recharge those batteries.
Converting hydrogen in ethanol is definitely what we are looking for. 25 liter of ethanol equivalent needs an enormous amount of storage size for hydrogen.
If we can store hydrogen in ethanol or even better compressed methane, then we got rid of the main hydrogen problem.
There are also fuel cells that eat methanol directly.
What is the main hydrogen problem? If you're talking explosion you're incorrect. Hydrogen, since it is so light compared to air, diffuses very quickly in addition to reacting in an oxygen reduction at temperatures lower than the boiling point of water. The main problem with hydrogen is that current hydrogen based fuel cell technology requires platinoids which are incredibly rare on Earth.
The main problem with hydrogen IS that it is not practically storable in huge quantities. So converting hydrogen into alcohol would certainly and definitely be a big necessary step to the realization of the hydrogen industry.
If you can't store it in huge quantities then it is practically nearly useless.
Pressurized liquid hydrogen.