System and method for renewable resource production, for example, hydrogen production by microbial electrolysis, fermentation, and/or photosynthesis
AssigneeMcAlister Technologies, LLC
InventorRoy Edward McAlister
Life of this patent
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Abstract
System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.
Claims20
A process for producing carbon or hydrogen from a water-based solution comprising:
- collecting solar energy at least part of which is received by a reaction zone, the reaction zone including a carbon source and a microorganism to promote production of said carbon or said hydrogen from said water-based solution, wherein said reaction zone includes an electrode surface capable of enhancing growth of said microorganism;
- anaerobically digesting said carbon source in said reaction zone;
- and
- dissociating at least a portion of said water-based solution into at least hydrogen and another substance by electrolysis.
A sustainable economic development process comprising:
- extracting carbon or hydrogen from a water-based resource;
- digesting organic matter in a reaction zone with anaerobic microorganisms to generate an electrolyte liquor, the reaction zone including an electrode surface capable of enhancing growth of said microorganisms;
- wherein extracting carbon or hydrogen includes dissociating hydrogen and another substance from said water-based resource or from said electrolyte liquor by electrolysis;
- and
- wherein extracting carbon or hydrogen includes applying energy to a reaction zone, the energy derived from a renewable resource.
An electrolytic process for producing hydrogen comprising:
- supplying a water-based solution having a carbon source to an electrolyzer;
- anaerobically digesting the carbon source with a microorganism present in said electrolyzer;
- providing hydrogenase to said electrolyzer;
- dissociating at least a portion of said water-based solution into at least hydrogen ions and oxygen ions by electrolysis;
- and
- catalyzing hydrogen production according to equation
- 2H++2e−→H2,
- wherein said equation is catalyzed by said hydrogenase.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.