New Hydrogen Production Method

A new method of hydrogen production has been created at the University of Aberdeen in the UK. Because hydrogen can be used to generate electricity, the new approach has the potential to significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption.

The method allows ethanol from the fermentation of crops to be completely converted to hydrogen and carbon dioxide, something that hasn't previously been possible. The hydrogen is then used to power fuel cells, which are entirely non-polluting

The new method -- which has the potential to power homes, buildings and cars -- is the result of a 10-year collaboration between University of Aberdeen scientists and several international partner laboratories.

Over 90 percent of the hydrogen currently generated across the globe is made using natural gas. The main concern with this method is that large amounts of carbon dioxide are produced as a by-product, which contributes to global warming.

The new production method uses ethanol, which is produced by the fermentation of crops -- no new carbon dioxide is released into the environment as is the case when fossil fuels are used to produce hydrogen.

Hicham Idriss, of the University of Aberdeen, who 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-sized fuel cell can be achieved using 1 kilogram 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." So no new carbon dioxide is introduced into the environment from underground.