Hydrogen from Bio-Feedstocks

[hankthecrank]

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/11/flash_autotherm.html#more

Flash Autothermal Reforming of Liquid Bio-Feedstocks to Produce Hydrogen
2 November 2006

University of Minnesota researchers have developed a process that flash evaporates nonvolatile liquid bio-feedstocks such as soy oil or glucose-water solutions by catalytic partial oxidation to produce hydrogen in high yields with a total reactor time of less than 50 milliseconds.

The new process works 10 to 100 times faster than current technology, with no input of fossil fuels (except for the use of methane at reactor startup and shutdown) and in reactors at least 10 times smaller than current models. The work, which will be published in the 3 Nov 2006 issue of Science, could significantly improve the efficiency of fuel production from renewable energy sources.

[eppur_se_muova]

1. VERY interesting. H2 is "common currency" for many different energy storage & transmission methods.

[poopfuel]

2. if you have an account at Science

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/314/5800/801

[hunter]

3. jpak posted a nice Chemistry World link.

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2006/November/02110602.asp

There's a picture of the machine:



jpak's post here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=71033&mesg_id=71033

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Thanks, bookmarked. nt