Bacteria That Makes Hydrogen Fuel

A boffin at the illustrious Oxford University claims that he has discovered a way to make use of a bacterial enzyme that naturally releases the hydrogen stored in water.

Research chemist Erwin Reisner says that this could be a way to make use of the enzymes known as hydrogenases that are used by minute organisms in the conversion of basic hydrogen ions into usable hydrogen gas.

The use of hydrogen has long been touted as the fuel of the future, but the big barrier stopping its development has always been that it is not cheap to produce.

According to Reisner this new natural method does not need oxygen to produce the hydrogen gas, which has been one of the major problems in producing cheap hydrogen fuel.

Together with fellow chemist, Fraser Armstrong, he believes that the recently uncovered bacterial hydrogenase is rich in selenium, iron and nickel.

This makes it highly efficient and capable of making the transformation with 1% oxygen.

Normally, to produce hydrogen, scientists need to have an environment that is completely free of oxygen.

They also say it will be possible to produce a dust that will be capable of generating hydrogen with the use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

All of this means it may be highly practical to produce hydrogen in large quantities at a relatively very low cost, which can then be used to power all kinds of vehicles including cars and aircraft.