In another step toward a cleaner energy future, scientists in the US have found a way to sustainably generate hydrogen using just water and bacteria. Using a process called reverse electro-dialysis, researchers an Penn State university have extracted the gas from water by breaking up its molecules.
Previous attempts at producing hydrogen have drawn scientific criticism, due to the amount of fossil fuels used and production costs, the ABC reports.
But this breakthrough is set to eliminate carbon offsets, by integrating a power based water supply into the system.
The test tank was separated into two chambers - one filled with salt water and the other with fresh - by a stack of membranes that allow ions to move in only one direction. On the fresh water side, the scientists used a specific kind of exoelectrogenic bacteria, found in ponds, streams, soils and wastewater, to eat organic molecules. In turn, the bacteria release electrons during digestion.
On the salt water side, ions in the tank were trying to move to the fresh water side. This movement creates a voltage. By adding more membranes, the scientists could increase the voltage - but only to a certain point.
Using 11 membranes, director of the Hydrogen to Energy Centre Bruce Logan, of Pennsylvania State University, was able to generate hydrogen.
Logan's experiment produced about 1.6 cubic metres of hydrogen for every cubic metre of liquid through the system of chambers and membranes.
Already car companies are experimenting with hydrogen-powered models, which still require an amount of petrol or electric energy. But a car that runs on organic wastewater can not only dispose of human by-products, but create a cleaner and greener future.
EDITOR'S PICKS
