Posted on 05/25/2007 9:24:25 AM PDT by HangnJudge
snip. Researchers at Virginia Tech, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the University of Georgia propose using polysaccharides, or sugary carbohydrates, from biomass to directly produce low-cost hydrogen for the new hydrogen economy.
snip. Using synthetic biology approaches, Zhang and colleagues Barbara R. Evans and Jonathan R. Mielenz of ORNL, and Robert C. Hopkins and Michael W.W. Adams of the University of Georgia, are using a combination of 13 enzymes never found together in nature to completely convert polysaccharides (C6H10O5) and water into hydrogen when and where that form of energy is needed. This “synthetic enzymatic pathway” research appears in the May 23 issue of PLoS ONE, the online, open-access journal from the Public Library of Science.
snip. The vision is for the ingredients to be mixed in the fuel tank of your car, for instance. A car with an approximately 12-gallon tank could hold 27 kilograms (kg) of starch, which is the equivalent of 4 kg of hydrogen. The range would be more than 300 miles, Zhang estimates. One kg of starch will produce the same energy output as 1.12 kg (0.38 gallons) of gasoline
snip. So it is environmentally friendly, energy efficient, requires no special infrastructure, and is extremely safe. We have killed three birds with one stone,” he said. “We have hydrogen production with a mild reaction and low cost. We have hydrogen storage and transport in the form of starch or syrups. And no special infrastructure is needed
(Excerpt) Read more at vtnews.vt.edu ...
Dang...there goes the price of sugar now...
I’m with you on that, btw. I was just being facetious...
So this means you drive around with some syrup in your tank, converting it to hydrogen as needed, rather than driving around with a big tank of hydrogen ready to explode? Sounds good.
Then you need another tank to convert cellulose into glucose and things will really be good - organic cars powered by termites and bacteria.
Mrs VS
Now’s the time to go long on Dairy Queen stock?
Who would have ever thoght sugar in the gas tank was a good thing?
This is the important line. You don't want to carry around 20 pounds of stuff to get the effect of 1 pound of gasoline. The next hurdle to clear will be how this compares to gas when measured in terms of energy output per dollar. My guess is that gas is still much cheaper; but, as the price of this system comes down, and the price of gas goes up, that threshold will be crossed quickly enough.
Well that certainly takes all the fun out of pouring sugar in someone’s gas tank...
We aren’t any closer to partial, much less complete hydrogen usage than we were ten years ago, however, I am in complete agreement, that massive drilling everywhere there is oil within our territory, building of refineries, and nuclear power production should be first and foremost on any list that has even a particle of chance to stop the terrorist money flood to our sworn enemies.
This would be cool if it ever makes it to market.
The Democrats will destroy the food supply of this country in the name of saving the environment.
Food is the new fuel, and not just for the human body.
However, Iceland is making a go of it, with their nearly unlimited geothermal energy resources
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/archive/2208013.stm
South Florida is a mecca for sugar.
It is more subsidized then any crop.
To harvest it they light the entire field on fire choking the air for as far as you can’t see.
Then the burned ashes flow into your water both above and below ground.
Then take into account the phosphates they use to fertalize it and I just can’t see it as the panacea.
What I can’t figure out is how they get away with it other then the f-ing e.p.a. isn’t doing their job.
ping
The environment bs garbage may be helpful for getting the useful idiots to be useful for the right side for once.
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