1 research outputs found
Efficient Hydrogen Production by Direct Electrolysis of Waste Biomass at Intermediate Temperatures
Biomass
has been considered as an alternative feedstock for energy
and material supply. However, the lack of high-efficiency and low-cost
processes for biomass utilization and conversion hinders its large-scale
application. This report describes electrochemical hydrogen production
from waste biomass that does not require large amounts of energy or
high production costs. Hydrogen was produced by the electrolysis of
bread residue, cypress sawdust, and rice chaff at an onset cell voltage
of ca. 0.3 V, with high current efficiencies of approximately 100%
for hydrogen production at the cathode and approximately 90% for carbon
dioxide production at the anode. The hydrogen yields per 1 mg of the
raw material were 0.1–0.2 mg for all tested fuels. Electrolysis
proceeded continuously at plateau voltages that were proportional
to the current. These characteristics were attributable to the high
catalytic activity of the carbonyl-group functionalized mesoporous
carbon for the anode reaction, and that the major components of biomass
such as cellulose, starch, lignin, protein, and lipid were effectively
utilized as fuels for hydrogen production