Toyota Central R&D Labs has developed a new way to produce hydrogen from ethanol, it has been reported.

According to Nikkei, the new method is around twice as efficient as current alternatives.

Hydrogen is produced by passing a water and ethanol mixture through a quartz tube that contains a catalyst with metal rhodium and silicon carbide and applying heat using microwaves.

Following this, the tube is placed inside an aluminium box. The inside of the box is then irradiated with microwaves.

Results suggest that using 2.45Ghz microwaves produces a reaction inside ten seconds, with 0.92 litres of hydrogen obtainable form one millilitre of an ethanol-water mixture at an energy efficiency of approximately 80 per cent.

The results will be announced in detail at the Ceramic Society of Japan's conference in Nagaoka on March 20th.

Source:

Toyota R&D Lab Efficiently Produces Hydrogen From Ethanol
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/03/toyota-rd-lab-e.html

Ÿ Adfero Ltd