Process for production of hydrogen from anaerobically decomposed organic materials
AssigneeWorld Hydrogen Energy LLC
InventorSukomal Roychowdhury
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for the production of hydrogen from anaerobically decomposed organic materials by applying an electric potential to the anaerobically decomposed organic materials, including landfill materials and sewage, to form hydrogen, and for decreasing the time required to treat these anaerobically decomposed organic materials. The organic materials decompose to volatile acids such as acetic acid, which may be hydrolyzed by electric current to form hydrogen. The process may be continuously run in sewage digestion tanks with the continuous feed of sewage, at landfill sites, or at any site having a supply of anaerobically decomposed or decomposable organic materials.
Claims22
A process for producing hydrogen from anaerobically digested organic materials comprising the steps of:
- placing said materials in a reaction zone;
- and applying an electric potential across said materials;
- thereby producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide whereby said electric potential is applied occasionally after periods without application of said electric potential.
A process for producing hydrogen from anaerobically digested organic materials/comprising the steps of:
- placing said materials in a reaction zone;
- and applying an electric potential across said materials;
- thereby producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide whereby said electric potential is applied occasionally after periods without application of said electric potential,
- separating said carbon dioxide and hydrogen by a separation means.
An energy conversion process comprised of the steps of anaerobically digesting organic materials to produce carbon dioxide and fuel selected from the group including hydrogen, methane, and mixtures of hydrogen and methane, separating said carbon dioxide from said fuel in which said separation comprises the steps of:
- pressurizing a fluid to a state that provides preferential absorption of carbon dioxide,
- mixing said carbon dioxide and said fuel with said fluid,
- collecting said hydrogen that remains after said preferential absorption of carbon dioxide,
- adding heat to said fluid after said preferential absorption of carbon dioxide for the purpose of increasing the amount of work produced by a motor that expands said pressurized fluid,
- releasing said carbon dioxide in conjunction with said expanding process, and
- cooling said fluid before said pressurizing step.
A process for producing hydrogen from anaerobically digested organic materials comprising the steps of:
- placing said materials in a reaction zone;
- and applying an electric potential across said materials;
- thereby producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide whereby said electric potential is applied occasionally after periods without application of said electric potential whereby the amount of time required to reduce the amount of said organic materials is substantially reduced compared to the time required without application of said electric potential.
A process for conversion of biomass wastes into useful energy comprising the steps of:
- application of intermittent voltage for purposes selected from the group including depression of microorganismal activity that produces methane, enhancement of microorganismal activity that produces hydrogen, and creation of an atmosphere within said biomass wastes that is maintained rich in hydrogen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.