New process converts manure into biohydrogen
Researchers at New Mexico State University are developing a new conversion process for the production of biohydrogen.
Hydrogen can be produced by three different processes: thermo-chemical, electrochemical or biological. Biological processes are the least energy-intensive and the most environmentally friendly and sustainable of the three.
Current methods of hydrogen production, such as electrolysis or biomass gasification, are not cost-effective because of the amount of energy needed as well as the use of non-renewable energy. Electrolysis uses electricity produced from fossil fuels to break water down into hydrogen and oxygen, while biomass gasification uses a high-temperature process by which hydrogen can be produced after several steps.
However, recent research has suggested that biological production of hydrogen – biohydrogen, made from organic matter – could be possible for a much better price (earlier post). The biological process the researchers are proposing relies only on sunlight for external energy.
The researchers will develop and demonstrate a two-stage process to produce hydrogen from cattle manure. In the first stage, hydrogen will be produced through anaerobic hydrolysis and fermentation. In the second stage, additional hydrogen will be produced through photo-fermentation of the products of the first stage:
biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: manure :: biogas :: biohydrogen ::
The principal investigator for the project is civil engineering professor Nirmala Khandan. The co-principal investigators are chemical engineering professor Shuguang Deng and biology professor Geoffrey Smith. Their research is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Khandan explains the process: “We are using microorganisms that can break down the cattle manure, which is a solid, and convert it to a liquid form. That’s the hydrolysis part. Microorganisms can feed on only liquids; they cannot consume solids directly. They have a mechanism by which they can convert the solids into liquid first, and then consume the liquid. They consume the liquid to get energy for themselves, while producing hydrogen and other chemicals as byproducts. We want to capture the hydrogen that they are producing.”
The team’s research will also lead to the construction of a reactor for hydrogen production. The reactor will be a unique configuration with two stages, one for each process.
“It’s a new process configuration, a new method that has not been done in many places,” Khandan said. “As far as I know, only about three other universities in the United States are doing this kind of work.”
The scientists think results of this research will have many benefits, including conserving fossil fuels, protection of water and air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing dependence on foreign energy sources.
Hydrogen can be produced by three different processes: thermo-chemical, electrochemical or biological. Biological processes are the least energy-intensive and the most environmentally friendly and sustainable of the three.
Current methods of hydrogen production, such as electrolysis or biomass gasification, are not cost-effective because of the amount of energy needed as well as the use of non-renewable energy. Electrolysis uses electricity produced from fossil fuels to break water down into hydrogen and oxygen, while biomass gasification uses a high-temperature process by which hydrogen can be produced after several steps.
However, recent research has suggested that biological production of hydrogen – biohydrogen, made from organic matter – could be possible for a much better price (earlier post). The biological process the researchers are proposing relies only on sunlight for external energy.
The researchers will develop and demonstrate a two-stage process to produce hydrogen from cattle manure. In the first stage, hydrogen will be produced through anaerobic hydrolysis and fermentation. In the second stage, additional hydrogen will be produced through photo-fermentation of the products of the first stage:
biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: manure :: biogas :: biohydrogen ::
The principal investigator for the project is civil engineering professor Nirmala Khandan. The co-principal investigators are chemical engineering professor Shuguang Deng and biology professor Geoffrey Smith. Their research is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Khandan explains the process: “We are using microorganisms that can break down the cattle manure, which is a solid, and convert it to a liquid form. That’s the hydrolysis part. Microorganisms can feed on only liquids; they cannot consume solids directly. They have a mechanism by which they can convert the solids into liquid first, and then consume the liquid. They consume the liquid to get energy for themselves, while producing hydrogen and other chemicals as byproducts. We want to capture the hydrogen that they are producing.”
The team’s research will also lead to the construction of a reactor for hydrogen production. The reactor will be a unique configuration with two stages, one for each process.
“It’s a new process configuration, a new method that has not been done in many places,” Khandan said. “As far as I know, only about three other universities in the United States are doing this kind of work.”
The scientists think results of this research will have many benefits, including conserving fossil fuels, protection of water and air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing dependence on foreign energy sources.
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