 |
|
Feather fibers fluff up hydrogen storage capacity
June 24, 2009Scientists in Delaware say they have developed a new hydrogen storage method - carbonized chicken feather fibers - that can hold vast amounts of hydrogen, a promising but difficult to corral fuel source, and do it at a far lower cost than other hydrogen storage systems under consideration.
The research, presented here today at the 13th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, could eventually help overcome some of the hurdles to using hydrogen fuel in cars, trucks and other machinery.
The conference is organized by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute®, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting and advancing the discovery and design of chemical products and processes that eliminate the generation and use of hazardous substances in all aspects of the global chemical enterprise.
"Carbonized chicken feather fibers have the potential to dramatically improve upon existing methods of hydrogen storage and perhaps pave the way for the practical development of a truly hydrogen-based energy economy," says Richard P. Wool, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering and director of the Affordable Composites from Renewable Resources program at the University of Delaware in Newark.
The research was presented by Erman Senoz, a graduate student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Delaware in Newark.
Chicken feather fibers are mostly composed of keratin, a natural protein that forms strong, hollow tubes. When heated, this protein creates crosslinks, which strengthen its structure, and becomes more porous, increasing its surface area. The net result is carbonized chicken feather fibers, which can absorb as much or perhaps more hydrogen than carbon nanotubes or metal hydrides, two other materials being studied for their hydrogen storage potential, Wool says. Plus, they're cheap.
Using carbonized chicken feathers would only add about $200 to the price of a car, according to Wool. By comparison, making a 20-gallon hydrogen fuel tank that uses carbon nanotubes could cost $5.5 million; one that uses metal hydrides could cost up to $30,000, Wool says.
Hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, has long been touted as a clean and abundant energy alternative to fossil fuels. But its physical characteristics make it very difficult to store and transport - as a pressurized gas it takes up about 40 times as much space as gasoline; as a liquid it needs to be kept at extremely low temperatures.
Wool estimates that it would take a 75-gallon tank to go 300 miles in a car using carbonized chicken feather fibers to store hydrogen. He says his team is working to improve that range.
"The problem with hydrogen as a gas or liquid is its density is too low," Wool says. "Using currently available technology, if you had a 20-gallon tank and filled it with hydrogen at typical room temperature and pressure, you could drive about a mile. When we started we didn't know how well carbonized chicken feathers would work for hydrogen storage, but we certainly suspected we could do a lot better than that."
In addition to hydrogen storage, Wool and his colleagues are working on ways to transform chicken feather fibers into a number of other products including hurricane-resistant roofing, lightweight car parts and bio-based computer circuit boards.
American Chemical Society
"Carbonized chicken feather fibers have the potential to dramatically improve upon existing methods of hydrogen storage and perhaps pave the way for the practical development of a truly hydrogen-based energy economy," says Richard P. Wool, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering and director of the Affordable Composites from Renewable Resources program at the University of Delaware in Newark.
The research was presented by Erman Senoz, a graduate student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Delaware in Newark.
Chicken feather fibers are mostly composed of keratin, a natural protein that forms strong, hollow tubes. When heated, this protein creates crosslinks, which strengthen its structure, and becomes more porous, increasing its surface area. The net result is carbonized chicken feather fibers, which can absorb as much or perhaps more hydrogen than carbon nanotubes or metal hydrides, two other materials being studied for their hydrogen storage potential, Wool says. Plus, they're cheap.
Using carbonized chicken feathers would only add about $200 to the price of a car, according to Wool. By comparison, making a 20-gallon hydrogen fuel tank that uses carbon nanotubes could cost $5.5 million; one that uses metal hydrides could cost up to $30,000, Wool says.
Hydrogen, the most common element in the universe, has long been touted as a clean and abundant energy alternative to fossil fuels. But its physical characteristics make it very difficult to store and transport - as a pressurized gas it takes up about 40 times as much space as gasoline; as a liquid it needs to be kept at extremely low temperatures.
Wool estimates that it would take a 75-gallon tank to go 300 miles in a car using carbonized chicken feather fibers to store hydrogen. He says his team is working to improve that range.
"The problem with hydrogen as a gas or liquid is its density is too low," Wool says. "Using currently available technology, if you had a 20-gallon tank and filled it with hydrogen at typical room temperature and pressure, you could drive about a mile. When we started we didn't know how well carbonized chicken feathers would work for hydrogen storage, but we certainly suspected we could do a lot better than that."
In addition to hydrogen storage, Wool and his colleagues are working on ways to transform chicken feather fibers into a number of other products including hurricane-resistant roofing, lightweight car parts and bio-based computer circuit boards.
American Chemical Society
Hydrogen Storage Current Events and Hydrogen Storage News RSSLayered graphene sheets could solve hydrogen storage issues
Graphene-carbon formed into sheets a single atom thick-now appears to be a promising base material for capturing hydrogen, according to recent research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Pennsylvania.
Researchers show applied electric field can significantly improve hydrogen storage properties
An international team of researchers has identified a new theoretical approach that may one day make the synthesis of hydrogen fuel storage materials less complicated and improve the thermodynamics and reversibility of the system.
Combining nanotubes and antibodies for breast cancer 'search and destroy' missions
Single-walled nanotubes-cylinders of carbon about a nanometer in diameter-have been highly touted for potential applications such as ultrastrong fibers, electrical wires in molecular devices, or hydrogen storage components for fuel cells.
New hydrogen-storage method discovered
Scientists at the Carnegie Institution have found for the first time that high pressure can be used to make a unique hydrogen-storage material.
Computer predicts reactions between molecules and surfaces, with 'chemical precision'
Good news for heterogeneous catalysis and the hydrogen economy: computers can now be used to make accurate predictions of the reactions of (hydrogen) molecules with surfaces. An international team of researchers, headed by Leiden theoretical chemist Geert-Jan Kroes, published on this subject this week in the journal Science.
Hydrogen Storage Gets New Hope
A new method for "recycling" hydrogen-containing fuel materials could open the door to economically viable hydrogen-based vehicles.
Delaware State U. scientists refine hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle power plants
Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) can be an important part of the solution to America's energy crisis, says Dr. Andrew Goudy of Delaware State University. He is leading a research team striving to solve a key technical FCV puzzle.
Researchers demonstrate reversible generation of a high capacity hydrogen storage material
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River National Laboratory have created a reversible route to generate aluminum hydride, a high capacity hydrogen storage material.
A touch of potassium yields better hydrogen-storage materials
An international research team, including Professor Rajeev Ahuja's research group at Uppsala University, has shown that small additions of potassium drastically improve the hydrogen-storage properties of certain types of hydrogen compounds.
New storage system design brings hydrogen cars closer to reality
Researchers have developed a critical part of a hydrogen storage system for cars that makes it possible to fill up a vehicle's fuel tank within five minutes with enough hydrogen to drive 300 miles.
More Hydrogen Storage Current Events and Hydrogen Storage News Articles
 |
Nanomaterials for Solid State Hydrogen Storage (Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Energy) by Robert A. Varin (Author), Tomasz Czujko (Author), Zbigniew S. Wronski (Author) Over the past decade, important advances have been made in the development of nanostructured materials for solid state hydrogen storage used to supply hydrogen to fuel cells in a clean, inexpensive, safe and efficient manner. Nanomaterials for Solid State Hydrogen Storage focuses on hydrogen storage materials having high volumetric and gravimetric hydrogen capacities, and thus having the highest potential of being applied in the automotive sector. Written by leading experts in the field, Nanomaterials for Solid State Hydrogen Storage provides a thorough history of hydrides and nanomaterials, followed by a discussion of existing fabrication methods. The authors’ own research results in the behavior of various hydrogen storage materials are also presented. Covering... |
 |
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) Plastic Bottle (16 oz) by Logistics Model Number: M332, M334|UOM: EA|Properties:|Our 3% hydrogen peroxide is a useful local antiseptic for treating abrasions and minor cuts |Cleans wounds and helps guard against infection |Active ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide 3%, Inert ingredients 97% |
 |
Hydrogen Fuel: Production, Transport, and Storage by Ram B. Gupta (Editor) From Methane to Hydrogen—Making the Switch to a Cleaner Fuel Source The world’s overdependence on fossil fuels has created environmental problems, such as air pollution and global warming, as well as political and economic unrest. With water as its only by-product and its availability in all parts of the world, hydrogen promises to be the next great fuel source. All of the Key Aspects of Hydrogen Fuel Hydrogen Fuel: Production, Transport, and Storage describes various aspects of hydrogen fuel, including production from both renewable and nonrenewable sources, purification, storage, transport, safety, codes, and carbon dioxide sequestration. The book examines the unique properties and uses of the hydrogen molecule, its ability to be produced from numerous energy sources,... |
 |
Danger Oxygen / Hydrogen Keychain by Design a Product LLC * Durable acrylic key chain is crystal-clear and double-sided so the artwork or message is seen twice. * Sturdy metal ring holds your keys securely. * Full color printed images or messages are included. * If you have new ideas or need help selecting text for your custom keychains please contact us. * Size: 2 1/8" x 3 1/2" (Approx. business card) |
 |
Solid-State Hydrogen Storage: Materials and Chemistry (Woodhead Publishing in Materials) by G. Walker (Editor) The next several years will see an emergence of hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative energy option in both transportation and domestic use. A vital area of this technological breakthrough is hydrogen storage. The design and selection of the materials is critical to the correct and long-term functioning of fuel cells and must be tailored to the type of fuel cell. The book looks in detail at each type of fuel cell and the specific material requirements and challenges. The text covers storage technologies, hydrogen containment materials, hydrogen futures and storage system design. It analyzes porous storage materials, metal hydrides, and complex hydrides as well as chemical hydrides and hydrogen interactions. |
|
|
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) Plastic Bottle (4 oz) by Logistics Model Number: M332, M334|UOM: EA|Properties:|Our 3% hydrogen peroxide is a useful local antiseptic for treating abrasions and minor cuts |Cleans wounds and helps guard against infection |Active ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide 3%, Inert ingredients 97% |
 |
Light, Water, Hydrogen: The Solar Generation of Hydrogen by Water Photoelectrolysis by Craig A. Grimes (Author), Oomman K. Varghese (Author), Sudhir Ranjan (Author) The development of a direct, inexpensive, and efficient method for converting solar energy into a portable, clean fuel would allow elimination of the growing problems associated with the ever increasing use of fossil fuels and the reality of their rapid depletion. As the title suggests, Light, Water, Hydrogen: The Solar Generation of Hydrogen by Water Photoelectrolysis, considers the combination of water and light with a suitable semiconductor to achieve a safe, renewable and therefore inexhaustable means for hydrogen generation via the splitting of the water molecule, or photoelectrolysis. The authors consider the impact of recent advances in nanotechnology on the water photoelectrolysis field, providing specific examples as well as the theories and methods necessary for... |
 |
Hydrogen Peroxide Pump Spray (4 oz) by Logistics Model Number: M5124|UOM: EA|Size: 4 oz|Properties:|Great for treating minor cuts and abrasions, helps prevent infection |Our hydrogen peroxide comes in a convenient, spill-proof pump spray bottle |Active ingredient: Hydrogen peroxide 3.0% |Inactive ingredient: Water |
 |
Handbook of Hydrogen Storage: New Materials for Future Energy Storage by Michael Hirscher (Editor), Katsuhiko Hirose (Editor) This only handbook on this hot topic provides an excellent overview of present technologies and focuses on the latest developments in the solid state storage of hydrogen, while tackling one of the most important questions for alternative and environment-friendly energy carriers (e.g. fuel cells). Since neither the optimal storage mechanism nor the optimal material fulfilling all the requirements has been identified, this book presents the most probable materials and highlights both their advantages as well as their drawbacks. |
 |
Hydrogen Vehicle: Hydrogen vehicle, List of fuel cell vehicles, Fuel cell bus, PHB (bicycle), Hydrogen airplane, Hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle, ... Hydrogen storage, Hydrogen infrastructure by John McBrewster (Editor), Frederic P. Miller (Editor), Agnes F. Vandome (Editor) Hydrogen vehicle. List of fuel cell vehicles, Fuel cell bus, PHB (bicycle), Hydrogen airplane, Hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle, Hydrogen production, Hydrogen storage, Hydrogen infrastructure, Hydrogen highway, Alternative fuel vehicle, Liquid hydrogen, The Hype about Hydrogen, World Car of the Year. |
| © 2010 BrightSurf.com |