By: Jose Luis Caceres
Following the previous article, in which the production of hydrogen from water using ‘eH2Fuel’ technology was discussed; this article explores the possibility of obtaining hydrogen from another compound: hydrogen sulphide (H2S).
The assertions on this article are founded in the premise that hydrogen -exists in- and -can be obtained from- H2S. Based on the latter, a technological advance is presented. The company with the proprietary rights of such technology, BIO-H2-GEN Inc., claims that production of hydrogen from hydrogen sulphide is technically feasible and economically viable.
Various options for obtaining Hydrogen:
There are only four simple compounds, spread around the world, in the required significant quantities, from which we can obtain hydrogen and they are:
- Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), sulphur is a commodity item.
- Ammonia (NH3), nitrogen forms NOx (very toxic gases)
- Methane (CH4), carbon forms the gas CO2 and toxic CO
- Water (H2O), more energy to remove H from H2O than from H2S
What is H2S?(source: Wikipedia)
· Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula H2S. It is a colorless gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs; it is heavier than air, very poisonous, corrosive, flammable, and explosive.
· Hydrogen sulfide often results from the prokaryotic breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen gas, such as in swamps and sewers; this process is commonly known as anaerobic digestion. H2S also occurs in volcanic gases, natural gas, and in some sources of well water.
Advantages of producing H2 from H2S (Hydrogen Sulphide) vs. other molecules
· Less energy is required for separating Sulphur from Hydrogen in and H2S molecule than with any other compound.
· It exists in all global wastewater infrastructures in most municipalities.
· It exists in mining wastewater lagoons
· It exists in all animal feed lot lagoons; beef, swine, poultry etc.
· It exists in wastewater from processed food operations
· It exists in wastewater from fruit packaging
· It exists in all beer production.
· It is so evident in natural sulphur cycles areas that it deserves the label “infinite source for hydrogen”
· The Black Sea, for example, holds trillions of tons of dissolved hydrogen sulphide in the massive anaerobic depths below 100 meters.
H2 from H2S using BIO-H2-GEN Inc. ‘proprietary’ electro-chemical process (at a glance)
BIO-H2-GEN Inc. has a proprietary electro-chemical process designed to produce ‘zero-carbon’ hydrogen gas from H2S gaseous compound in a cost effective and sustainable manner.
Though BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology doesn’t currently have any operational/production plant, it claims to have ‘empirical’ evidence of its process efficacy.
BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology takes advantage of nature’s current functioning Sulphur Cycle (diagram)
From H2 production -using BIO-H2-GEN Inc. electrochemical process- to electricity (diagram)
“With respect to potential production capability; a community of 150K has the potential to produce 3 to 4 million kilograms (weight not volume) of hydrogen annually; with continuous 24/7 production.”
In an article published in LinkedIn in November, 2015 by William Knapp (president and CEO of BIO-H2-GEN Inc.), the following example illustrating the potential capabilities of BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology was provided: “A municipality with wastewater treatment infrastructure and with a 150K population, could be producing 3 to 4 million kilograms of hydrogen (weight not volume) annually using our technology. That production is estimated based on a concentration of H2S as 2.5 milligrams per litre and 325 litres of wastewater produced each day per capita. When our technology is introduced that number will increase resulting from our viewpoint of encouraging the growth of the bacteria that produces H2S as opposed to the existing costly application methodologies for purposes of suppressing those bacteria. Our process will greatly reduce those costs in addition to providing ‘zero-carbon’ hydrogen gas. Introducing a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, to process the hydrogen will result in a lot of electricity, heat and pristine pure water as the only products; no deleterious emissions.
In addition to the benefit that accrues to the municipality, with respect to private and permanent jobs, there are two areas that will definitely secure municipal participation; a reduction of a community’s biological oxygen demand (B.O.D.) costs and will enable the municipality to meet growing environmental regulations with respect to sulphur dioxide emissions.”
Potential advantages of obtaining H2 from H2S
1. Using just hydrogen, as the fuel carrier in polymer (proton) exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) renders only three products:
a. A great deal of electricity; continuous not depleted like a battery.
b. Absolutely pristine pure water.
c. Heat; making water is exothermic. No greenhouse gases.
2. BIO-H2-GEN Inc. claims that the technology is cost effective, relative to 12 other methodologies for producing hydrogen.
3. BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology if applied, could potentially utilize existing infrastructures; no need for exploration and drilling or digging a mine.
4. Production of H2 from H2S with BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology wouldn’t add carbon to the atmosphere and would greatly reduce the existing carbon footprint.
5. Production of H2 from H2S with BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology could significantly reduce a municipality’s biological oxygen demand. (B.O.D. costs.)
6. BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology if applied, could potentially provide permanent private employment for all involved municipalities 24 hours a day for each of 365 days a year producing hydrogen.
Where does BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology stands today (September 2016)
The following is the current state of BIO-H2-GEN technology, in the words of William Knapp (President and CEO of BIO-H2-GEN Inc.): “BioH2Gen patent pending technology only requires development funding to be successful. However, despite filing a US provisional patent application, on June 19th 2015, (assigned to BIO-H2-GEN Inc.) we still require financial support for our phase two development. Phase one gave us empirical data validation; but we lack the quantitative data that is costly to produce; particularly when we require state-of-art laboratory instrumentation. An equity partnership, with Venture Capital, would solve that current barrier; initial support would provide for math modelling of the chemical process which, in turn, would mitigate perceived high risk and justify the CapEx and OpEx of a budget for a $10M pilot plant.”
Insight and Conclusions
BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology is a valid attempt for delivering hydrogen fuel in a technically and economically feasible way. Though as stated in the article, there is no production capacity in existence for this technology, the idea and the science behind it, if proved and demonstrated in the practice, has an enormous potential.
The successful establishment of BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology could potentially create a thriving energy source from an otherwise useless compound. Such tremendous opportunity could in turn be coupled with economic growth and the creation of many (possibly thousands) of employment positions.
BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology is a great and novel idea, but it requires the investment of capital. Bringing to life this technology, like any other experimental technologies of such of such significant scope, is without a doubt costly and capital intensive.
A sustainable energy future depends on efforts like the BIO-H2-GEN Inc. technology. I do not imply that Hydrogen from H2S (or from any other compound) is the way forward, but it is certainly a possibility which if proven effective, could help diminish greenhouse gas emissions and thus mitigate climate change.
Special thanks to Robert Kellaway for proofreading this article.
Sources:
- William Knapp. November 1st, 2015. Hydrogen, the clean infinity carrier.
- William Knapp. October 18, 2015. Hydrogen, the clean infinity carrier. Forget the science what’s behind climate change?
- William Knapp. August 22, 2015. “Zero Carbon” Hydrogen from hydrogen sulphide.
- William Knapp. November 06, 2015. Only 4 single atom compounds, in large measure globally; only two extract hydrogen gas cost effectively.
- William Knapp. March 30, 2016. Even the ultimate energy source needs hydrogen.
