Producing Hydrogen Fuel One Eggshell at a Time
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 09.28.07
Never underestimate the power of eggs: a team of engineers from Ohio State University has developed an innovative process for sopping up carbon dioxide in a reaction that generates hydrogen fuel - using discarded eggshells. As an added bonus, the reaction results in the removal of collagen from the inside of the shells - a valuable protein with commercial applications (in food, drugs and medical treatments).
"The key to making pure hydrogen is separating out the carbon dioxide. In order to do it very economically, we needed a new way of thinking, a new process scheme," said L.S. Fan, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the university who helped devise the new technique. Eggshells, which mainly consist of calcium carbonate, can be turned into calcium oxide through a heat processing reaction. Calcium oxide is extremely effective at absorbing acidic gases like carbon dioxide.
The eggshells became the basis for Fan's hydrogen fuel-producing method, a variant on the water-gas-shift reaction - a reaction in which fossil fuels are gasified to produce carbon monoxide, which then combines with water to generate carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Based on previous experiments, Fan estimates that ground-up eggshells could capture as much as 78% of carbon dioxide by weight.
As promising as this may sound, we're still a long ways from providing the whole country with eggshell-based hydrogen fuel (we're talking small amounts here) - a reality Fan readily acknowledges: "Eggshell alone may not be adequate to produce hydrogen for the whole country, but at least we can use eggshell in a better way compared to dumping it as organic waste in landfills, where companies have to pay up to $40 dollars per ton disposal cost." Better start saving 'em now.
Via ::Ohio State University Research News: ENGINEERED EGGSHELLS TO HELP MAKE HYDROGEN FUEL (news release)
See also: ::Sweet! The Chocolate-Powered Hydrogen Fuel Cell, ::Trading Carbs for Hydrogen
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Schemes like this make no sense. We can't even get people to curbside collect their used bottles and cans beyond 30%. The material collection and handling issues around eggshells are much worse, obviously. So much so that this strikes me as a publicity stunt. Go dig out some limestone for goodness sake.
I don't think this is mainly meant for post-consumer eggshells. Consider more the big food company that usually has to pay to get rid of their eggshells. I have no idea how cost effective this is, but it's a neat concept.
I think any industrial-scale process that requires animal-based intermediaries is doomed for failure. Not only is it inhumane, animals are very, very inefficient consumers/producers of energy.
It occurs to me that a company might just buy agricultural lime, and avoid dealing with all the protein.
Also, the lithium silicate/lithium carbonate cycle seems to be more energy-efficient than the calcium oxide/calcium carbonate cycle, from what I've read.
Please don't be fooled...this is a chemical form of the 'shell' game.
When heated, calcium carbonate forms calcium oxide, which the article states. What it doesn't state is that the other product of heating calcium carbonate is carbon dioxide.
CaCO3 -> CaO + CO2
They heat the eggshells, drive off the CO2, then put the CaO in with the H2 and CO2 gases formed from coal gassification, and magically 'absorb 78%' of the CO2 by weight.
Don't believe me? The molar mass of CaO is 56 g/mol. The molar mass of CO2 is 44 g/mol. 44/56 = .78, or 78%.
This is a sham. The only way they are sequestering CO2 is by releasing an equal amount in their 'heat processing' treatment of the eggshells. Only, this way, they are wasting energy by decomposing the calcium carbonate. I can't believe people get paid, published, and famous for such misleading garbage. I'm sure the oil companies are behind this research, because any production of hydrogen from fossil fuels is still deliterious to the environment.
How much heat is required for the combustion process? The energy derived in the form of Hydrogen - is it worth it? The amount of energy input versus what we're getting out should also be considered.
I agree very much with Joel. This is basic chemistry knowledge.
I also ask about the rating of this University, where such a nonsense can be published.
Well who would go through this much trouble without a reason? I wonder how much fossil fuel it takes to mine and transport limestone. I wonder how difficult it is to produce collagen. I wonder together how much you may be able to save by killing 2 birds with one stone. Not to mention the reduction of matter going directly into landfills. Why not use something were throwing away instead of digging up something brand new?