Research from the University of Illinois and the University of California, Davis has chemists one step closer to recreating nature’s most efficient machinery for generating hydrogen gas.
This new development may help clear the path for the hydrogen fuel industry to move into a larger role in the global push toward more environmentally friendly energy sources.
The researchers report their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Currently, hydrogen gas is produced using a very complex industrial process that limits its attractiveness to the green fuel market, the researchers said. In response, scientists are looking toward biologically synthesized hydrogen, which is far more efficient than the current human-made process, said chemistry professor and study co-author Thomas Rauchfuss.
Biological enzymes, called hydrogenases, are nature’s machinery for making and burning hydrogen gas. These enzymes come in two varieties, iron-iron and nickel-iron – named for the elements responsible for driving the chemical reactions. The new study focuses on the iron-iron variety because it does the job faster, the researchers said.
The team came into the study with a general understanding of the chemical composition of the active sites within the enzyme. They hypothesized that the sites were assembled using 10 parts: four carbon monoxide molecules, two cyanide ions, two iron ions and two groups of a sulfur-containing amino acid called cysteine.
The team discovered that it was instead more likely that the enzyme’s engine was composed of two identical groups containing five chemicals: two carbon monoxide molecules, one cyanide ion, one iron ion and one cysteine group. The groups form one tightly bonded unit, and the two units combine to give the engine a total of 10 parts.
But the laboratory analysis of the lab-synthesized enzyme revealed a final surprise, Rauchfuss said. “Our recipe is incomplete. We now know that 11 bits are required to make the active site engine, not 10, and we are in the hunt for that one final bit.”
Team members say they are not sure what type of applications this new understanding of the iron-iron hydrogenase enzyme will lead to, but the research could provide an assembly kit that will be instructive to other catalyst design projects.
“The take-away from this study is that it is one thing to envision using the real enzyme to produce hydrogen gas, but it is far more powerful to understand its makeup well enough to able to reproduce it for use in the lab,” Rauchfuss said.
Researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University also contributed to this study.
Learn more: New study looks to biological enzymes as source of hydrogen fuel
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Hydrogen fuel
[google_news title=”” keyword=”hydrogen fuel” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Hydrogen fuel
- Ram's Hydrogen-Powered Heavy-Duty Pickup: What You Need To Knowon May 18, 2024 at 9:00 am
After venturing into the BEV space, Ram is now flirting with alternate fuels, and the hydrogen-powered Ram 5500 is its next big project.
- Argonne Nat’l Lab is spending big bucks to study BIG hydrogen vehicleson May 18, 2024 at 8:29 am
Argonne National Laboratory is building a new research and development facility to independently test large-scale hydrogen fuel cell systems.
- 4 Reasons why hydrogen investing so popularon May 18, 2024 at 12:02 am
H2 has become an exceptionally popular topic and many wonder if it’s worth their money As the world continues its effort to decarbonize, hydrogen investing h
- This invention converts alcohol into hydrogen: this is how you can have the most futuristic fuelon May 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
This is what a team of scientists has achieved by converting alcohol into hydrogen, in a way that will revolutionize the industry. The first methanol fuel cell? Actually, it has more to do with hydrogen Both methanol fuel cells and hydrogen production have ...
- Nation’s First Commercial Hydrogen Fueling Station to Openon May 17, 2024 at 9:36 am
The truck fueling station, set to open this summer in West Oakland, has the potential over six years to stop nearly 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from fouling the air and harming nearby residents.
- Is hydrogen fuel about to get way cheaper from this one discovery?on May 17, 2024 at 12:02 am
Scientists have found a way to produce H2 using 95% less iridium, a rare and expensive metal RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) researchers i
- Hyzon Unveils Hydrogen Fuel Cell Refuse Truckon May 16, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Hydrogen fuel cell technology developer Hyzon and New Way Trucks, a privately held refuse truck body manufacturer, are showcased a hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric refuse truck at Waste Expo, May 7-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The companies say ...
- Clean Hydrogen: America’s Promising Next Fuel Source for a Resilient Energy Futureon May 15, 2024 at 10:19 am
POWER is at the forefront of the global power market, providing in-depth news and insight on the end-to-end electricity system and the ongoing energy transition. We strive to be the “go-to” resource for power professionals,
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Hydrogen production
[google_news title=”” keyword=”hydrogen production” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Hydrogen production
- Hydrogen Production: Back to Basicson May 17, 2024 at 3:01 pm
Thus, hydrogen for energy use must be produced. However, there are clean ways to produce hydrogen and there are dirty ways to produce hydrogen. The key function that dictates whether hydrogen can ...
- Honda expands its risky hydrogen investment with new fuel cell-powered semi truckon May 17, 2024 at 11:19 am
Honda continues to place bets on hydrogen with the debut of a new Class 8 truck powered by the most abundant element in the universe. The concept vehicle joins the automaker’s hydrogen fuel cell SUV ...
- Hy2gen, OCE Sign MOU to Power Hydrogen Production with Offshore Windon May 17, 2024 at 10:04 am
Hy2gen subsidiary Hy2gen USA and Ocean Connect Energy (OCE) have executed an MOU to jointly investigate powering renewable hydrogen production from offshore wind. The MOU directs the companies to ...
- CHARBONE Hydrogen Independent Valuation & Green Production Rollout Announcedon May 17, 2024 at 9:35 am
CHARBONE HYDROGEN CORPORATION (TSXV: CH; OTCQB: CHHYF; FSE: K47) has announced that they have received a US$60.8 million valuation from an ...
- Is hydrogen fuel about to get way cheaper from this one discovery?on May 17, 2024 at 12:02 am
Scientists have found a way to produce H2 using 95% less iridium, a rare and expensive metal RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) researchers i ...
- NW Natural and Modern Hydrogen Unveil Clean Hydrogen Production, Carbon Capture Project in Portlandon May 16, 2024 at 1:25 pm
NW Natural and Modern Hydrogen welcomed more than 100 guests and employees to an official unveiling of a new project that is producing clean hydrogen while capturing solid carbon.
- India Has Awarded Tenders For Setting Up 412,000 Tonnes Of Green Hydrogen Production Capacity: MNREon May 16, 2024 at 11:59 am
( MENAFN - KNN India) New Delhi, May 16 (KNN) In a significant stride towards realising its ambitious green hydrogen goals, India has awarded tenders for establishing 412,000 tonnes of green hydrogen ...
- Hydrogen startup spun out of Los Alamos National Laboratory raises first chunk of fundingon May 16, 2024 at 10:00 am
The startup's founder and CEO said a first prototype could be ready in the next two weeks and that the startup could open a seed round this fall.
- Whitebark starts hydrogen production studies for Australian geothermal asseton May 16, 2024 at 9:25 am
Whitebark Energy has commenced a study on the commercialization of hydrogen production at the company's geothermal assets in Australia.
- Nanobubble research to improve green hydrogen productionon May 16, 2024 at 8:35 am
In a novel study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of Twente have made significant strides in understanding the behavior of micro- and ...