Environmentally friendly biomass energy conversion produces hydrogen gas or electricity in a compact, scalable, affordable system as an alternative energy source

Traditional processes which extract energy from coal, natural gas or petroleum have poor efficiency and produce harmful byproducts. Biomass is considered a new source of energy for the future. Biomass can be converted into energy in the form of hydrogen gas, electricity, and sequestration-ready carbon dioxide with this environmentally friendly, green technology. Integrating carbon capture and storage into the energy conversion system makes the overall process not just carbon neutral, but carbon negative.

Carbon neutral or carbon negative system is scalable, compact, and able to be rapidly implemented.

Energy conversion is achieved by an alkaline hydrothermal treatment, using a strong base to remove carbon from the biomass mixture and catalysts developed with nanotechnology to increase the efficiency of bio-refinement. The reaction is carried out such that the hydroxide base is recycled to react with more biomass while hydrogen and carbon are converted into gas and CO2 for sequestration. This biomass energy conversion system can be mass-produced and does not require any initial large-scale capital investments, allowing small businesses to become energy producers. It is compact and scalable at low cost, making it ideal for small operations like farms or rural businesses where biomass is readily available and doesn't require energy-intensive transportation. Further, the energy conversion is carried out at low temperature and pressure; the overall process consumes little energy while providing a source of sustainable, "green" energy that can reduce oil dependence and CO2 emissions.

Lead Inventor:

Ah-Hyung Alissa Park, PhD

Applications:

• Biomass conversion for green energy
• Environmentally friendly energy alternative to oil
• Carbon capture and storage
• Reduce CO2 emissions
• Potentially generate carbon credits with carbon-negative system

Advantages:

• Compact, scalable system
• Able to be mass produced
• Carbon neutral or carbon negative
• Because it is low cost, there is no need for a large initial capital investment
• Perfect for farm-scale use, where biomass is readily available
• Energy conversion reactions occur at low temperature and pressure

Patent information:

Patent Issued

Tech Ventures Reference: IR CU12042

Related Publications:

• N. Hansen, T. E. Ferguson, J. E. Panels, A.-H. A. Park and Y. L. Joo, "Inorganic Nanofibers with Tailored Placement of Nanocatalysts for Hydrogen Production via Alkaline Hydrolysis of Glucose," Nanotechnology, 22, 325302