Schematic diagram of byproduct production and hydrogen evolution through lignin decomposition
A novel technology has been developed for hydrogen production from the process, which involves electron that is produced during the decomposition of biomass such as waste wood. The result produced after biomass decomposition is a high value-added compound, and it is a two-stone technology that improves the efficiency of hydrogen production.
A research team, led by Professor Jungki Ryu in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST has presented a new biofuel system that uses lignin found in biomass for the production of hydrogen. The system decomposes lignin with a molybdenum (Mo) catalyst to produce high value-added compounds, and the electrons extracted in the process effectively produce hydrogen.
An eco-friendly way of producing hydrogen is the electrolysis of water. The voltage is applied to the water to produce hydrogen and oxygen at the same time. However, in the currently reported technology, the oxygen generation reaction (OER) is slow and complicated, and hydrogen production efficiency is low. This is because hydrogen gas is produced by hydrogen ions as electrons, because these electrons come from the oxygen evolution reaction.
Through the study, Professor Ryu and his research team have developed a new biofuel system that uses lignin as an electron donor in a way to reduce the overall inefficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This is the principle of using molybdenum-based inexpensive metal catalysts (PMA) to break down lignin at low temperatures, and extract the electrons produced in the process to produce hydrogen. The new device has been designed to move electrons from lignin, along the wire to the electrode where the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) occurs.
“With this new system, we can produce hydrogen with less energy (overvoltage) than conventional water electrolysis, as there is no need for oxygen reactions, requiring high energy and precious metal catalysts,” says Hyeonmyeong Oh (Combined M.S/Ph.D. of Energy and Chemical Engineering, UNIST), the first author of the study. “Conventional methods require more than 1.5 volts, but the new system was capable of producing hydrogen at a much lower potential (0.95 volts).”
In addition, vanillin or carbon monoxide (CO), which are produced via lignin breakdown is very useful substance for various industrial processes. “Lignin, the second most naturally abundant biomass, is difficult to decompose. However, using molybdenum-based catalysts (PMA) it was easily degraded at low temperatures,” says Research Assistant Professor Yuri Choi, the co-author of the study.
“The new biofuel system is a technology that produces hydrogen and valuable chemicals using cheap catalysts and low voltages instead of expensive catalysts such as platinum (Pt),” says Professor Ryu. “Our work is also significant, as it presents a new way to replace oxygen-producing reactions in the electrolysis of water.”
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Hydrogen production
- Minnova Corp. and Minnova Renewable Energy Announce Restructuring Strategy and Future Green Hydrogen Production Site Selection
The demonstration unit will be design and built on a mobile platform for future marketing of our technology with on-site small-scale production. The demonstration unit will operate for up to 6 months ...
- Toyota, Air Liquide and CaetanoBus join forces to accelerate the development of hydrogen mobility in Europe
ranging from renewable or low-carbon hydrogen production, distribution and refuelling infrastructure, to the deployment in different vehicle segments. Initially the focus will be on buses, light ...
- Hydrogen power plant proposed for former uranium enrichment facility in Southern Ohio
The Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative is working with the Texas company Newpoint Gas on the plant proposal.
- The Hydrogen Stream: Hydrogen-powered foiling chase boat
The top speed of Chase Zero to date was clocked at 50.3 knots (93.16km/hour) on its ninth day of testing. Toyota provided the pre-production hydrogen fuel cells units for Chase Zero. HydrogenOne and ...
- Hydrogen Likely to Be Next Fuel for Trucking, Panelists Say
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Hydrogen fuel cells are being adopted in transit fleets, and trucking is poised to be the second mover with the fuel — and ultimately see a price at production comparable to ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Hydrogen production
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Hydrogen production from biomass
- Minnova Corp. and Minnova Renewable Energy Announce Restructuring Strategy and Future Green Hydrogen Production Site Selection
Continue to review innovative cleantech technologies that compliment our biomass gasification technology ... which is targeting green hydrogen production. The Company has completed a Positive ...
- Company developing hydrogen technologies to appear on NewConnect
Power Green Tech, a company that intends to bring to market a breakthrough technology for producing green hydrogen from biomass, will go public. This will happen thanks to the transaction with ...
- Policy dashboard: World Economic Forum to track chemicals industry's clean tech policy landscape
New report promises in-depth overview of how major markets are attempting to catalyse the roll out of low carbon emitting technologies that could deliver a net zero chemicals sector ...
- Editor’s Challenge in Advanced Clean Fuel Technologies: Advanced Low Carbon Fuels
The Specialty Chief Editors of ‘Frontiers in Energy Research’ are delighted to launch a new series of Research Topics entitled Editor's Challenge. Submissions are exclusively from the editorial board ...
- Aussie billionaire aims to mine $8bn US fund for coal-to-hydrogen industrial conversion
Twiggy Forrest-owned Fortescue's project to tap renewable energy on Washington state grid – where surplus hydroelectric power usually exported to Canada and wes ...