Posted on 12/01/2006 7:04:15 AM PST by ConservativeMind
Scientists have combined two molecules that occur naturally in blood to engineer a molecular complex that uses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, says research published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
This molecular complex can use energy from the sun to create hydrogen gas, providing an alternative to electrolysis, the method typically used to split water into its constituent parts. The breakthrough may pave the way for the development of novel ways of creating hydrogen gas for use as fuel in the future.
Professors Tsuchida and Komatsu from Waseda University, Japan, in collaboration with Imperial College London, synthesised a large molecular complex from albumin, a protein molecule that is found at high levels in blood serum, and porphyrin, a molecule which is used to carry oxygen around the body and gives blood its deep red colour. Porphyrin molecules are normally found combined with metals, and in their natural state in the blood they have an iron atom at their centre. The scientists modified the porphyrin molecule to swap the iron for a zinc atom in the middle, which completely changed the chemistry and characteristics of the molecule.
This modified porphyrin molecule was then combined with albumin; with the albumin molecule itself being modified by genetic engineering to enhance the efficiency of the process. The resulting molecular complex was proven to be sensitive to light, and can capture light energy in a way that allows water molecules to be split into molecules of hydrogen and oxygen.
Dr Stephen Curry, a structural biologist from Imperial College London's Division of Cell and Molecular Biology who participated in the research explains: "This work has shown that it is possible to manipulate molecules and proteins that occur naturally in the human body by changing one small detail of their make-up, such as the type of metal at the heart of a porphyrin molecule, as we did in this study.
"It's very exciting to prove that we can use these biological structures as a conduit to harness solar energy to separate water out into hydrogen and oxygen. In the long term, these synthetic molecules may provide a more environmentally friendly way of producing hydrogen, which can be used as a 'green' fuel."
How much does it cost though? When they don't put a price tag in, it typically is a technology that isn't cost effective currently, but may be after several years and economies of scale are set up.
Chemical synthesis of the molecule is still needed, though -- does it break even, energy-wise? For example, does this stuff breaks down in the reaction, or does it remain intact, and continue to create hydrogen and oxygen?
An extremely interesting approach, though.
This could lead to a self contained bio-electric device....
Right out of Star trek Voyager, where the ship was controlled by Bio-tech.
I thought a little heat separated H2O into Hydrogen and oxygen?
So, do the moonbat "No blood for oil!" types jump on the "No blood for hydrogen!" bandwagon??
Nope, you gotta zap it. Heat puts it back together.
A little heat on H2O gives you steam.
Have any companies expressed interest in the patents?
zap it with what?
No, it is a chemical process that uses a energy (heat or electricity) in the presence of a catalyst.
Help me out here... Is "albumin" in human blood different than the white of an egg, also called "albumin"? Is that a blanket name for similar types of protein?
Gotta be different - these brainy guys wouldn't have gone to the trouble of getting it from blood if all they had to do was crack a few eggs.... would they?
No, it is a chemical process that uses a energy (heat or electricity) in the presence of a catalyst.
what did I miss? I am being serious. I would like to understand it a little bettter.
ping
Proteins are very sensitive to temperature and pH changes. Albumin also has a relatively short shelf life.
This is a laboratory oddity and will not be on your roof churning out hydrogen.
They do not give effiency numbers either.
Folding ping?
Right. And also the cost (dollar-wise and energy-wise) of making the catalyst.
If you could come up with a genetic-engineering way of creating this molecule, it might not matter.
Please Freep Mail me if you'd like on/off
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.