Hydrogen Production

The researchers from Rostock have now developed a feasible process for the on-demand release of hydrogen; they produce hydrogen from formic acid (HCO₂H). In the presence of an amine (e.g. N,N-dimethylhexylamine) and with a suitable catalyst (e.g. the commercially available ruthenium phosphine complex [RuCl₂(PPH₃)₂]), formic acid is selectively converted into carbon dioxide and hydrogen at room temperature. A simple activated charcoal filter is enough to purify the hydrogen gas for use in a fuel cell. The use of formic acid for “hydrogen storage” allows the advantages of established hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell technology to be combined with those of liquid fuels. Formic acid is nontoxic and easy to store. Because formic acid can be generated catalytically from CO₂ and biomass-derived hydrogen, the cycle is CO₂ neutral in principle. (Full Story at sd)


I still say that solar power is the end game, but hydrogen fuel cells are a much better mid-range solution than bio-fuels. It sounds like folks are still trying to get them to feasibility, which is cool with me.