Scientists harness solar power to produce clean hydrogen from biomass

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/scientists-harness-solar-power-to-produce-clean-hydrogen-from-biomass

[font face=Serif]14 Mar 2017

[font size=5]Scientists harness solar power to produce clean hydrogen from biomass[/font]



[font size=4]A team of scientists at the University of Cambridge has developed a way of using solar power to generate a fuel that is both sustainable and relatively cheap to produce. It’s using natural light to generate hydrogen from biomass.[/font]

[font size=3]One of the challenges facing modern society is what it does with its waste products. As natural resources decline in abundance, using waste for energy is becoming more pressing for both governments and business.

Biomass has been a source of heat and energy since the beginning of recorded history. The planet’s oil reserves are derived from ancient biomass which has been subjected to high pressures and temperatures over millions of years. Lignocellulose is the main component of plant biomass and up to now its conversion into hydrogen has only been achieved through a gasification process which uses high temperatures to decompose it fully.

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The new technology relies on a simple photocatalytic conversion process. Catalytic nanoparticles are added to alkaline water in which the biomass is suspended. This is then placed in front of a light in the lab which mimics solar light. The solution is ideal for absorbing this light and converting the biomass into gaseous hydrogen which can then be collected from the headspace. The hydrogen is free of fuel-cell inhibitors, such as carbon monoxide, which allows it to be used for power.

The nanoparticle is able to absorb energy from solar light and use it to undertake complex chemical reactions. In this case, it rearranges the atoms in the water and biomass to form hydrogen fuel and other organic chemicals, such as formic acid and carbonate.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.4220

[Talk Is Cheap]

1. It will start innocently just cleaning up 'forest biomass'... Then,

...the forest will be cut down for this 'fuel source'.

You cut down the forest - you will kill the ability for Earth to sustain life, especially humans.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. Or maybe not

This process can use all sorts of “biomass”:

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The team used different types of biomass in their experiments. Pieces of wood, paper and leaves were placed in test tubes and exposed to solar light. The biomass didn’t require any processing beforehand.

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[FogerRox]

3. Deforestation may be the source

of declining oxygen levels in the atmosphere.

While the oceans rising temps.....