Urine: The Hydrogen Fuel of the Future?
Could this be what the future of fuel looks like?
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.
- » See also: Copenhagen Opens First Hydrogen Fueling Station, Unveils Fleet of Fuel Cell Cars
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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.
1/3 the voltage. Is the amperage the same? If so, then it would be 1/3 the energy.
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.
If urine is to be the fuel of the future, will it be the smell of the future as well?
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
Well at least i cant be told or accused of “pissing my money away”
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.
Matt… it turns ” I gotta pee” into ” I gotta take a sh*t ” …. lol
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.
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!
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.