British researchers have developed a hydrogen generator that uses sunflower oil, which could be cleaner and more efficient than current hydrogen power.
In research presented at the American Chemical Society conference Wednesday, scientists from the University of Leeds in England showed how they created a generator that uses sunflower oil, air and water vapor with two specialized catalysts that store and release oxygen or carbon dioxide to intermittently produce hydrogen.
The hydrogen could be used to power automobile fuel cells, homes, factories and offices, researchers said.
Hydrogen-powered fuel cells generally require pollutant-producing fossil fuels but the new generator, which can fit on a standard lab bench, would produce only carbon dioxide and methane, researchers said.
The generator achieves a hydrogen purity of 90 percent, greater than 70 percent of current generators, researchers said.
Researchers said the new prototype soon also could work with other types of vegetables.
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
