Hydrogen From Air Chemically

Discussion in 'Fuel Economy & Emissions' started by Stormin' Norman, Jun 13, 2008.

  1. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    Blame it on late 1950's Drywall. I found an article on our Research Council's website that was written by some science geeks (I was one), where they were analysing why drywall made back in the late 50's always seemed to stain at the joints - turn yellowish/brown/beige. Hydrogen was the culprit.
    http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cp/coa2_e.html

    This Oxford University Scientist and others found out that by coating certain materials with a NATURAL enzyme (which they are putting on steroids somehow) that they can extract the Hydrogen into a useable fuel which can produce an electrical current (so far on small devices/low current)

    Here's the 2005 article:
    http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Ar...sity-fuel-cell-extracts-hydrogen-from-air.htm

    Here's the professor's website at Oxford (lots of PDF files):
    http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/researchguide/faarmstrong.html

    My guess (outside the box) is that the Drywall reaction holds the key to the type of enzymes these guys are using.

    For us Combustion engine types, this isn't a big deal, unless it can be used to run the electrical system. :idea: All his work so far is towards Hydrogen as an electricity producer. Who wants to carry old chalk to watch its enzymes make a couple amps?

    What is the big deal, though is that it confirms that there is a way to get Hydrogen out of common air.

    I searched using Google with Air "hydrogen" (as keywords).

    And for a Hydrogen 101 intro about it's chemical makeup and place in the great scheme of nature, when it's not making new Galaxies, it's giving us water, and lots of other stuff. This is a good, non techie description of what can be made with Hydrogen and other materials/minerals/gasses. When mixed with Oxygen it does explode on its own. If you follow the formulas with H2 on the passenger side (US/Canada :D), it can also be extracted from other abundant materials, but you'd need heavier springs. :49::

    http://www.ucc.ie/academic/chem/dolchem/html/elem/elem001.html
     
  2. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    When you look at the different ways of extracting Hydrogen in a Lab, and the Commercial (presumed more cost-efficient) ways, WATER is the cheapest. Water/Humidity in the air. Now since steam works even better to get it out, why not run a couple of thick Stainless steel tubes over or near the manifold(s) and get the warmer water into the electrolysis process? Maybe not as exotically as BMW did on their dual-fuel test car, since they were really recouping the exhaust heat from the exhaust pipes to warm up the Hydrogen Fuel Cell. In this On-The-Fly idea, we get the hydrogen from the common air, collect the humidity enough to form or maintain an adequate supply of water (which we could also collect from the tailpipe) and produce Hydrogen gas.

    Here's the BMW and Ford experiments:
    http://www.uwaft.com/hydro_comb.htm

    http://auto.howstuffworks.com/bmw-h2r.htm

    http://www.ford.com/innovation/environmentally-friendly/hydrogen
     

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