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Corn waste potentially more than ethanol

A Penn State researcher has developed a process that converts organic matter in corn waste into electricity, with a conversion rate of over 93 percent. This technology could provide a new, sustainable source of energy, reducing reliance on ethanol and other fossil fuels.

SourcePenn State·JournalEnergy & Fuels·DateJul 19, 2006

Waste not, want not

A team of researchers from Penn State University has developed a bacteria-driven cell that produces hydrogen for fuel while simultaneously cleaning wastewater. The innovation utilizes a microbial fuel cell to harness the power of microorganisms to generate electricity and purify water.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateApr 25, 2005

Microbial fuel cell: High yield hydrogen source and wastewater cleaner

A new microbial fuel cell process can produce high yields of hydrogen from biodegradable organic matter in wastewater. This technology uses a small amount of electricity to boost bacterial fermentation, overcoming the 'fermentation barrier' and producing clean hydrogen gas while simultaneously cleaning the wastewater.

SourcePenn State·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateApr 22, 2005

Hydrogen-fueled cars not best way to cut pollution, greenhouse gases and oil dependency

Researchers argue that improving current cars and environmental rules is more cost-effective than developing hydrogen fuel cells, which require significant investment in infrastructure. Increasing fuel efficiency or raising prices can achieve similar reductions in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions without the need for new infr...

Powering fuel cells: oxide materials may facilitate small-scale hydrogen production

Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed an oxide system that can produce hydrogen from water vapor and methane at lower temperatures, potentially allowing it to be powered by solar energy. This could provide a lower-cost alternative to traditional reforming processes for small-scale fuel cells in homes or vehicles.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology Research News·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 9, 2003

The mystery of the disappearing planetary disks

Researchers Jeff Bary and David Weintraub propose that planetary disks may not dissipate as expected, but instead become invisible due to the planet-building process. They detected evidence of molecular hydrogen in three classical T Tauri stars with visible disks, suggesting a large but hard-to-detect disk in naked stars.

Penn State engineers boost hydrogen production from fermentation

Researchers at Penn State have developed a method to increase hydrogen production from fermentation by 43%, utilizing industrial wastewater as feedstock. This approach can potentially make hydrogen a cheaper fuel alternative to gasoline, while also reducing costs for wastewater treatment plants.

SourcePenn State·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateMay 31, 2002