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Mar 08, 2006 -- M2 PRESSWIRE
. In research aimed at reducing American dependence on petroleum-based fuels, a group of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists has found a way to replace the petroleum used in today's hydrogen fuel cell membranes with naturally occurring products. Hydrogen fuel cells have received a lot of attention as a possible energy conversion mechanism. The coming of what's being called a renewable "hydrogen economy" is being touted as a feasible alternative to current economic reliance on nonrenewable fossil fuels. In the hydrogen economy, hydrogen fuel cells would replace internal combustion engines in vehicles, and hydrogen would replace gasoline. However, current hydrogen fuel cell technology is heavily dependent on petroleum to make both the fuel cells and the hydrogen fuel. In biology, membranes surrounding cells routinely conduct hydrogen ions through the cell walls. Borrowing from this idea, Barone and his colleagues have focused their research on bio-based, nonpetroleum membranes made from naturally occurring products to conduct the hydrogen ions moving in and out of fuel cells. Further development of this type of innovative energy-generation technology would help America move away from the widespread use of petroleum and would address the need to explore alternative energy sources. ARS is the chief scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. CONTACT: Sharon Durham, ARS Tel: +1 301 504 1611 e-mail: sdurham@ars.usda.gov M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com. News Provided By |
