SlowHands
02-21-2009, 06:07 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Tomorrow's fuel-cell vehicles may be powered by enzymes that consume cellulose from woodchips or grass and exhale hydrogen. (sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090211162026.htm)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Wood_Chips_to_Ethanol.jpgScience Daily (sciencedaily.com) – Feb. 17, 2009
Good potential for getting hydrogen from biomass, more efficient than getting methanol from it. -- Ed.
Researchers at Virginia Tech, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the University of Georgia have produced hydrogen gas pure enough to power a fuel cell by mixing 14 enzymes, one coenzyme, cellulosic materials from nonfood sources, and water heated to about 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius).
The group announced three advances from their "one pot" process: 1) a novel combination of enzymes, 2) an increased hydrogen generation rate -- to as fast as natural hydrogen fermentation, and 3) a chemical energy output greater than the chemical energy stored in sugars – the highest hydrogen yield reported from cellulosic materials. "In addition to converting the chemical energy from the sugar, the process also converts the low-temperature thermal energy into high-quality hydrogen energy – like Prometheus stealing fire," said Percival Zhang, assistant professor of biological systems engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090211162026.htm
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Wood_Chips_to_Ethanol.jpgScience Daily (sciencedaily.com) – Feb. 17, 2009
Good potential for getting hydrogen from biomass, more efficient than getting methanol from it. -- Ed.
Researchers at Virginia Tech, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the University of Georgia have produced hydrogen gas pure enough to power a fuel cell by mixing 14 enzymes, one coenzyme, cellulosic materials from nonfood sources, and water heated to about 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius).
The group announced three advances from their "one pot" process: 1) a novel combination of enzymes, 2) an increased hydrogen generation rate -- to as fast as natural hydrogen fermentation, and 3) a chemical energy output greater than the chemical energy stored in sugars – the highest hydrogen yield reported from cellulosic materials. "In addition to converting the chemical energy from the sugar, the process also converts the low-temperature thermal energy into high-quality hydrogen energy – like Prometheus stealing fire," said Percival Zhang, assistant professor of biological systems engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090211162026.htm