Published on July 6th, 2009 | by Nick Chambers

Urine: The Hydrogen Fuel of the Future?

Could this be what the future of fuel looks like?

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Pee. What can’t it do? From its reputable use as a fertilizer to questionable use as a hangover cure, urine has way more uses than you might imagine (or even want to know in the first place). Seriously. Some people even claim drinking it makes you healthier. Sounds completely quack to me, but what do I know?

Actually. Scratch that. This I know: drinking your own pee is universally questionable behavior.

But in the realm of interesting uses for your own bodily fluids, using urine as a source of hydrogen to power the cars of the future is a serious undertaking and based on completely sound science.

People have known for a long time that you can generate hydrogen easily by running a current through water to split it into its component parts — oxygen and hydrogen — using a process called electrolysis. The problem is that the amount of energy needed to split the water is relatively large and the materials required are very expensive (although last year some MIT scientists created a brand new cheap catalyst that they say changes all that).

Urine to the rescue. Now some researchers at Ohio University have found that urine makes a much better starting point for generating hydrogen than water. The hydrogen found in urine is bonded much more loosely than in water. So loose, in fact, that by using simple and cheap materials hydrogen can be generated from urine using 1/3 of the voltage needed to make hydrogen from water.

The researchers see a much wider application for this technology in wastewater treatment plants by generating hydrogen while treating the waste simultaneously.

The Ohio University researchers are not alone in their quest for “gold.” Last month we reported on an entry into the Automotive X-Prize that uses urine as its source of hydrogen. Dubbed “ZeroFuel,” the team’s concept seems very similar to the Ohio University researchers approach. Perhaps they should be working together?

Source: Royal Society of Chemistry

Image Credit: FaceMePLS‘s Flickr Photostream. Used under a Creative Commons License.

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Tags: electrolysis, fuel, hydrogen, pee, research, Science, urine

About the Author

Nick Chambers Not your traditional car guy.

Carbon Buildup

Nick,

This is terrible!It brings up the spectre of Pee Slaves! Yes, I can see it now, thousands of people forced to drink gallons of green tea everyday and pee into large tanker trucks! Kidney and bladder enslavement!
Carbon Buildup

Nick,

This is terrible!It brings up the spectre of Pee Slaves! Yes, I can see it now, thousands of people forced to drink gallons of green tea everyday and pee into large tanker trucks! Kidney and bladder enslavement!
http://www.turboaddict.com/ Turbo Civic

It’s taking me a little time to digest this…

At first I thought that “urine” as anything.. used for anything would be sort of nasty, besides from better fertilizer.

But, urine a hangover cure? I might have to get one of my buddies to try that out! haha.

After reading how the hydrogen is weakly bonded and can be used for fuel… I’d be willing to take a pee in a catalyst to drive somewhere…

Beats paying these fluctuating gas prices… Especially as we enter deeper phases of peak oil!
http://www.turboaddict.com/ Turbo Civic

It’s taking me a little time to digest this…

At first I thought that “urine” as anything.. used for anything would be sort of nasty, besides from better fertilizer.

But, urine a hangover cure? I might have to get one of my buddies to try that out! haha.

After reading how the hydrogen is weakly bonded and can be used for fuel… I’d be willing to take a pee in a catalyst to drive somewhere…

Beats paying these fluctuating gas prices… Especially as we enter deeper phases of peak oil!
Cameron

Well now isn’t that something… a good excuse to drink more… more BEER.

I already have future scenarios going through my head of an empty hydrogen tank, a case of beer and a jimmy rigged electrolysis machine… sounds like a McGuyver episode.
Cameron

Well now isn’t that something… a good excuse to drink more… more BEER.

I already have future scenarios going through my head of an empty hydrogen tank, a case of beer and a jimmy rigged electrolysis machine… sounds like a McGuyver episode.
russ

Years back (maybe 40 or 50) that was all the Indian Prime Minister (Morarji Desai) drank – some religious reason I suppose.

I can imagine – refreshments being served at a state dinner!
russ

Years back (maybe 40 or 50) that was all the Indian Prime Minister (Morarji Desai) drank – some religious reason I suppose.

I can imagine – refreshments being served at a state dinner!
Bob

Sounds great, but can someone explain this outdoor pee toilet to me. Is this something that being used commonly? It’s really something that I don’t want my 6 yr old daughter to be confronted with.
Bob

Sounds great, but can someone explain this outdoor pee toilet to me. Is this something that being used commonly? It’s really something that I don’t want my 6 yr old daughter to be confronted with.
Jake

In Wold War I, urine was collected to make gun powder because of the nitrogen. Who knows, maybe by World War III we will be using it to fuel cars. Regarding using urine as a hangover cure, I tried that once and got a big slap in to the face. She called the police too.
Jake

In Wold War I, urine was collected to make gun powder because of the nitrogen. Who knows, maybe by World War III we will be using it to fuel cars. Regarding using urine as a hangover cure, I tried that once and got a big slap in to the face. She called the police too.
Mike

Bob,

Looks like this photo was taken in the Netherlands…the signage at the background says “OTHEEK VISIE” which could be the Dutch mortgage company HYPOTHEEK VISIE…and yes, it is being used commonly in the Netherlands…I’ve seen some of that in the city of The Hague
Mike

Bob,

Looks like this photo was taken in the Netherlands…the signage at the background says “OTHEEK VISIE” which could be the Dutch mortgage company HYPOTHEEK VISIE…and yes, it is being used commonly in the Netherlands…I’ve seen some of that in the city of The Hague
Johnny

OK, so let’s take this a bit further. Let’s suppose that we get vehicles that can run on urine. So, naturally, we all need to re-plumb our houses so that the urine is collected while the remaining waste continues on to the waste-water treatment facility. Also the local pub, restaurants, etc. all jump on the bandwagon collecting and selling the urine so that when we find the tank, and bladder, are both empty, we can pull in to the local fueling station and continue on our way.

Will non-human urine also be utilized? Given our thirst for oil, I suspect that we will end up consuming more urine than can be recovered just from humans. But for now, let’s assume human-only urine is “recycled” this way.

What a power shift we would see – Clearly China would supplant the OPEC nations as the #1 source for Urine. India likely would be a distant second. Saudi Arabia wouldn’t even be able to meet their own needs. The US would still be a net importer and would still be no where near energy independence.

On the bright side, we’d probably put an end to all the “Global Warming” talk and ozone depletion…

Throw in non-human urine and I can see the elephant population exploding as humans exploit their urine-generating capability!
Johnny

OK, so let’s take this a bit further. Let’s suppose that we get vehicles that can run on urine. So, naturally, we all need to re-plumb our houses so that the urine is collected while the remaining waste continues on to the waste-water treatment facility. Also the local pub, restaurants, etc. all jump on the bandwagon collecting and selling the urine so that when we find the tank, and bladder, are both empty, we can pull in to the local fueling station and continue on our way.

Will non-human urine also be utilized? Given our thirst for oil, I suspect that we will end up consuming more urine than can be recovered just from humans. But for now, let’s assume human-only urine is “recycled” this way.

What a power shift we would see – Clearly China would supplant the OPEC nations as the #1 source for Urine. India likely would be a distant second. Saudi Arabia wouldn’t even be able to meet their own needs. The US would still be a net importer and would still be no where near energy independence.

On the bright side, we’d probably put an end to all the “Global Warming” talk and ozone depletion…

Throw in non-human urine and I can see the elephant population exploding as humans exploit their urine-generating capability!
chris

Hey, That could be easy money for lower IQ people. Getting paid to pee. Brilliant! $50 per gallon sounds good.
chris

Hey, That could be easy money for lower IQ people. Getting paid to pee. Brilliant! $50 per gallon sounds good.
Dave

From the looks of things they only can use, or want male urine… If you catch my drift…. LoL (:-o)

Why is it we have to do all the work and the girls don’t have to put their urine to good use? LoL….
Dave

From the looks of things they only can use, or want male urine… If you catch my drift…. LoL (:-o)

Why is it we have to do all the work and the girls don’t have to put their urine to good use? LoL….
Andrew

I wonder if you get diffrent MPG based on what your drinking? For example, is starbucks better Pee than say Coors? Or is plain old water the way to go?

Or course, this could lead to some intresting situations on the side of the highway (“But Officer, I was just topping off my tank”).
Andrew

I wonder if you get diffrent MPG based on what your drinking? For example, is starbucks better Pee than say Coors? Or is plain old water the way to go?

Or course, this could lead to some intresting situations on the side of the highway (“But Officer, I was just topping off my tank”).
EcoCitizen

Just another marvelous alternative fuel idea for Detroit to ‘piss’ on!
Val

Hey, this would solve two problems associated with a long car ride.
EcoCitizen

Just another marvelous alternative fuel idea for Detroit to ‘piss’ on!
Val

Hey, this would solve two problems associated with a long car ride.
Frank Costanzza

Yes, Frank. They’re in Amsterdam. Lots of them too. I was there just this past december. Pretty shocking…I thought !!
Frank Costanzza

Yes, Frank. They’re in Amsterdam. Lots of them too. I was there just this past december. Pretty shocking…I thought !!
Frank Costanzza

Sorry…I meant “Yes Bob”…
Frank Costanzza

Sorry…I meant “Yes Bob”…
Rebel

I wounder how much hydrogen a gallon of urine could yield? And if my neighbor will let me borrow a cup, ahhh what a condominium to run short of, and how will that story be reported on the news.
Rebel

I wounder how much hydrogen a gallon of urine could yield? And if my neighbor will let me borrow a cup, ahhh what a condominium to run short of, and how will that story be reported on the news.
brian

Awesome! Maybe we can have two toilets in each of our bathrooms. 1-for urine. 2 for #2’s.
brian

Awesome! Maybe we can have two toilets in each of our bathrooms. 1-for urine. 2 for #2’s.
phonegirl

Turbo civic…

LMAO at your pun… “It’s taking me a little time to digest this” Hilarious!
phonegirl

Turbo civic…

LMAO at your pun… “It’s taking me a little time to digest this” Hilarious!
Joe

That would be almost ‘accurate’ for a McGyver episode as he is over 20 years older now.
Joe

That would be almost ‘accurate’ for a McGyver episode as he is over 20 years older now.
Matt

Sounds like the ultimate road trip machine…. it turns “I gotta pee” into “we don’t have to stop for gas!”
sean

Yeah Bob, street urinals are all over europe, I dont think we will see them here in the states as they wont even let us take a pee on a tree on the side of the highway, yet you will only find a rest area every 250 miles or so if you are lucky. When you gotta pee you gotta pee or else you die! I cant understand the mentality of the states, we all pee right bob even your 6 year old, you yanks are so uptight.
Matt

Sounds like the ultimate road trip machine…. it turns “I gotta pee” into “we don’t have to stop for gas!”
sean

Yeah Bob, street urinals are all over europe, I dont think we will see them here in the states as they wont even let us take a pee on a tree on the side of the highway, yet you will only find a rest area every 250 miles or so if you are lucky. When you gotta pee you gotta pee or else you die! I cant understand the mentality of the states, we all pee right bob even your 6 year old, you yanks are so uptight.
Jezreel Magbanua

I think I will have to ddrink much water to power my house. Our house will have its own electric power from the family’s pee.

Sounds cool, right?

It’s free and renewable.
Jezreel Magbanua

I think I will have to ddrink much water to power my house. Our house will have its own electric power from the family’s pee.

Sounds cool, right?

It’s free and renewable.
Chris

Those urinals are very common in foreign countries. They do not look at the body and sex as grossly as US does. To them taking a pee is very natural and not something a 6 year old should have to be sheltered from. The man is not showing his genitals, he is turned foward. This is the major problem with the US, the natural human body is so repulsive to them. Do you hide your daughters eyes from the statue of David?
Chris

Those urinals are very common in foreign countries. They do not look at the body and sex as grossly as US does. To them taking a pee is very natural and not something a 6 year old should have to be sheltered from. The man is not showing his genitals, he is turned foward. This is the major problem with the US, the natural human body is so repulsive to them. Do you hide your daughters eyes from the statue of David?
http://americabyair.com HAK

URINE THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!
http://americabyair.com HAK

URINE THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!
MEEEEEEEEEE

So basically they get their employees to drink the watter and pee it out to make it cost 1/3 of the voltage? What happpens if they drink the pee and pee it out again?
Eric

Gives new meaning to the Oscar Mayer “Wiener Wagon.”

Hey neighbor can I borrow a some piss for my lawnmower?

Quick Batman, to the Pee Mobile!

“Time to drain the tank…and fill it at the same time.”

Toyota introduces the next hybrid…the “G-Wiz.”

Potty train your child in new Graco Car Seat.

Yup, my car gets 30 MPP (Mile Per Pee)

Budwizer will replace Union 76 as the official sponsor of Nascar.

My car broke down…it’s passing a kidney stone.
MEEEEEEEEEE

So basically they get their employees to drink the watter and pee it out to make it cost 1/3 of the voltage? What happpens if they drink the pee and pee it out again?
Eric

Gives new meaning to the Oscar Mayer “Wiener Wagon.”

Hey neighbor can I borrow a some piss for my lawnmower?

Quick Batman, to the Pee Mobile!

“Time to drain the tank…and fill it at the same time.”

Toyota introduces the next hybrid…the “G-Wiz.”

Potty train your child in new Graco Car Seat.

Yup, my car gets 30 MPP (Mile Per Pee)

Budwizer will replace Union 76 as the official sponsor of Nascar.

My car broke down…it’s passing a kidney stone.
Ferdy

The urinal seems fake. Or maybe it’s just my monitor.
Ferdy

The urinal seems fake. Or maybe it’s just my monitor.
Bill

Bob I just got back from western europe, and they were all over the place. Especially in Amsterdam. I thought it was a little odd at first, but to each his own. They are so much more “green” then the U.S. I was astounded to realize how wasteful the American society is as a whole.
Bill

Bob I just got back from western europe, and they were all over the place. Especially in Amsterdam. I thought it was a little odd at first, but to each his own. They are so much more “green” then the U.S. I was astounded to realize how wasteful the American society is as a whole.
Eric

I guess this is why Howard Hughes was peeing in jars toward the end of his life. He was really a visionary!
Eric

I guess this is why Howard Hughes was peeing in jars toward the end of his life. He was really a visionary!
Morgan

YEAH OHIO UNIVERSITY!! BOBCATS TO THE RESCUE!!! WITH URINE!!! WOOOOO!!!! OU needs some good hangover cures…
Morgan

YEAH OHIO UNIVERSITY!! BOBCATS TO THE RESCUE!!! WITH URINE!!! WOOOOO!!!! OU needs some good hangover cures…
Jim

1/3 the voltage. Is the amperage the same? If so, then it would be 1/3 the energy.
- Reality
  
  and 1/3 the energy is a complete physical impossibility. The hydrogen in urine is IN the water content. These concepts are being completely misunderstood, the basic math of extracting hydrogen from water is very simple and can never, under any set of circumstances, be less than the energy delivered BY the hydrogen as a fuel. Hydrogen is an energy delivery system, that is all. it does not, can not, actually provide energy not already present in the system.
Jim

1/3 the voltage. Is the amperage the same? If so, then it would be 1/3 the energy.
Ryne

Great now you tell me, last night I had enough fuel in me to take that Turkish student built hydrogen car around the world 17 times.
Ryne

Great now you tell me, last night I had enough fuel in me to take that Turkish student built hydrogen car around the world 17 times.
Skyhawk maintainer

If urine is to be the fuel of the future, will it be the smell of the future as well?
Skyhawk maintainer

If urine is to be the fuel of the future, will it be the smell of the future as well?
Matt

I know of some other uses not listed on here it was used for like used in dry cleaning during the roman times and for tanning leather in the 1800’s
Matt

I know of some other uses not listed on here it was used for like used in dry cleaning during the roman times and for tanning leather in the 1800’s
toothache

Well at least i cant be told or accused of “pissing my money away”
toothache

Well at least i cant be told or accused of “pissing my money away”
nathan

Bob,

the outdoor urinal is for the marthon runners or walkers the ones that have to run/walk like 30 miles or so they need somewhere to go and thats where the go.
nathan

Bob,

the outdoor urinal is for the marthon runners or walkers the ones that have to run/walk like 30 miles or so they need somewhere to go and thats where the go.
D

Matt… it turns ” I gotta pee” into ” I gotta take a sh*t ” …. lol
D

Matt… it turns ” I gotta pee” into ” I gotta take a sh*t ” …. lol
Marty

Let’s see if we can combine our urine and feces together to create the fuel. Then all we have to do is drink beer or margaritas and eat burritos to keep up production levels. NOW that is a solution.
Marty

Let’s see if we can combine our urine and feces together to create the fuel. Then all we have to do is drink beer or margaritas and eat burritos to keep up production levels. NOW that is a solution.
mark

Bob… You obviously haven’t been to Europe. Unlike in the US, where people simply piss in the street because the local 7-Eleven, or Burger King has locked their Restrooms,… They (most of Western Europe) have for decades provided a place for people to “go”. The reason for the high visibility is to reduce vandalism, not provide safe haven for drugies, and no place for bums to shack out. So relax,.. your daughter won’t turn to stone if she sees someone taking a leak!
mark

Bob… You obviously haven’t been to Europe. Unlike in the US, where people simply piss in the street because the local 7-Eleven, or Burger King has locked their Restrooms,… They (most of Western Europe) have for decades provided a place for people to “go”. The reason for the high visibility is to reduce vandalism, not provide safe haven for drugies, and no place for bums to shack out. So relax,.. your daughter won’t turn to stone if she sees someone taking a leak!
LeXiS

We don’t need to exploit anything, just refuel at heavily populated buildings, like schools and offices. Think about the effects of juice boxes and coffee, now couple that with modern fuel efficiency. Maybe the cars could have more electric parts, powered by a battery that receives energy from both the engine and a solar panel on top of the car. No elephants, no green tea, just common sense. The cars also can take moisture from air being processed through the circulation system. People might start exercising and carpooling to and from the gym, just to help fuel the car. Kids could power the mini-van after soccer practice (in more ways than one). We’re already downsizing to smaller, lighter vehicles, maybe the cars might not even need very much urine. On the extreme plus side, this kind of engine will definitely make boating affordable and fun.
LeXiS

We don’t need to exploit anything, just refuel at heavily populated buildings, like schools and offices. Think about the effects of juice boxes and coffee, now couple that with modern fuel efficiency. Maybe the cars could have more electric parts, powered by a battery that receives energy from both the engine and a solar panel on top of the car. No elephants, no green tea, just common sense. The cars also can take moisture from air being processed through the circulation system. People might start exercising and carpooling to and from the gym, just to help fuel the car. Kids could power the mini-van after soccer practice (in more ways than one). We’re already downsizing to smaller, lighter vehicles, maybe the cars might not even need very much urine. On the extreme plus side, this kind of engine will definitely make boating affordable and fun.
Uncle B

MIT has a new catalyst, when used in Solar collectors produces H2 and O2 from sunlight – can pee speed this up? Can nuclear/electric plants now furnish cheap and abundant H2 and O2 from night-time surplus, to be fed to fuel cells to heat my house? run my car? flatten daytime demand curves? be transported loss free to more remote demand-locations, like my cottage? farms? building sites? camping grounds? Can we stop peeing and shiiteing in our lakes and streams, bio-gas the solids, and radiate them to safety for topsoil replacement? Is there really a better way to handle things ? Is importing O.P.E.C. and Saudis oil the only realistic and economical way to go? Are we facing paradigm shifts in our society that even we, the mighty American breed cannot adapt quickly and intelligently to? Is Asia going to pass us by? Does India really have more folk with IQ’s over 130 than we have people?Is energy a significant problem in respect to this? the Asian takeover if the Industrial world from us? Do we have fuel choices or are we on our last desperate run to “Third Worldom” believing capitalist advertising propagandists and big oil influences even as the coffin door slams down on our fingers! America! Wake up! Embrace the new, forsake the old! Move into the Hydrogen future, You are not being offered a choice here! These are the fingers of the kind hand of survival for fewer of us than we would like, and must be grasped, as much as this idea – The “American Dream” is dead and gone! Time to move on!
Uncle B

MIT has a new catalyst, when used in Solar collectors produces H2 and O2 from sunlight – can pee speed this up? Can nuclear/electric plants now furnish cheap and abundant H2 and O2 from night-time surplus, to be fed to fuel cells to heat my house? run my car? flatten daytime demand curves? be transported loss free to more remote demand-locations, like my cottage? farms? building sites? camping grounds? Can we stop peeing and shiiteing in our lakes and streams, bio-gas the solids, and radiate them to safety for topsoil replacement? Is there really a better way to handle things ? Is importing O.P.E.C. and Saudis oil the only realistic and economical way to go? Are we facing paradigm shifts in our society that even we, the mighty American breed cannot adapt quickly and intelligently to? Is Asia going to pass us by? Does India really have more folk with IQ’s over 130 than we have people?Is energy a significant problem in respect to this? the Asian takeover if the Industrial world from us? Do we have fuel choices or are we on our last desperate run to “Third Worldom” believing capitalist advertising propagandists and big oil influences even as the coffin door slams down on our fingers! America! Wake up! Embrace the new, forsake the old! Move into the Hydrogen future, You are not being offered a choice here! These are the fingers of the kind hand of survival for fewer of us than we would like, and must be grasped, as much as this idea – The “American Dream” is dead and gone! Time to move on!
mike

what will it smell like? at least recovered restaurant oil might smell like donuts or fries.
mike

what will it smell like? at least recovered restaurant oil might smell like donuts or fries.