Another Means of Generating Hydrogen
The article Hydrogen Fuel from Formic Acid informs us of a new way of generating hydrogen gas. The source is formic acid and the related research was conducted at the Leibniz Institute of Catalysis in Rostock, Germany. Formic acid has a number of uses. For example, it has been used to treat tracheal and varroa mites in honey bee hives.
Hydrogen, obtained from formic acid, could be used as a source of power for cell phones and laptops although useage in connection with vehicles does not appear to be likely soon. Formic acid is broken down into hydrogen and carbon dioxide at a low temperature range of 26-40 degrees centigrade. Amines are mixed with formic acid and a ruthenium-based catalyst used to treat the mixture. The amine/formic acid mixture is safe.
An advantage of formic acid is the ability to use it directly in a fuel cell. It's drawback is that other sources of hydrogen, like methane and methanol, yield more hydrogen so they can result in greater energy yield per unit measure.
Hydrogen, obtained from formic acid, could be used as a source of power for cell phones and laptops although useage in connection with vehicles does not appear to be likely soon. Formic acid is broken down into hydrogen and carbon dioxide at a low temperature range of 26-40 degrees centigrade. Amines are mixed with formic acid and a ruthenium-based catalyst used to treat the mixture. The amine/formic acid mixture is safe.
An advantage of formic acid is the ability to use it directly in a fuel cell. It's drawback is that other sources of hydrogen, like methane and methanol, yield more hydrogen so they can result in greater energy yield per unit measure.
Labels: Technology
posted by Paul Williamson at
9:55 AM
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