Genetically engineered blood protein can be used to split water into oxygen and hydrogen

Physorg.com ^ | Dec 1, 2007 | Imperial College London

[SampleMan]

I thought a little heat separated H2O into Hydrogen and oxygen?

Just the opposite. Heat combines them.

[TommyDale]

Now people will kill each other for fuel?

[Boiler Plate]

K4,
Just applying heat to H2O either melts ice, heats water, makes steam or heats steam. In order separate the H's from the O a chemical process must occur.

The reverse process where you take Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) add a spark causes combustion, wherein heat (energy) is given off and water (H2O) is formed. The combustion process is not usually reversible like a battery. Think of burning wood, it is difficult to take the ash and make into wood again, the only way I know is to use the ash as fertilizer for a new tree. In order to separate H and O a catalyst is required to draw the molecule apart.

Here is pretty good web site

http://www.powersat.com/eNews/eNews001/article_2.htm

[Boiler Plate]

I guess we will have to what and see. If this proves to be fairly inexpensive, then the Arab world is screwed.

[bert]

A little heat makes steam.

A lot of heat and pressure makes very hot steam.

[r9etb]

Just the opposite. Heat combines them.

Actually, combining them generates heat....

[finnigan2]

"Now people will kill each other for fuel?"


- Yup. To have a constant supply of fresh albumin to create the hydrogen you'll have to have people to supply the blood. Maybe, so as not to upset the public, they could manufacture it at top secret facilities and call the product "soylent green".
Don't ask me what happens to the byproducts - you don't want to know.

[Uncledave]

Now people will kill each other for fuel?

No blood for blood!!

[Kevmo]

Thanks for posting the Spock "fascinating" pic. Bump for later reading.

[SampleMan]

Actually, combining them generates heat....

Combining them molecularly does, simply putting the two elements together doesn't. But what is the catalyst for combining the first H2O molecule? Wouldn't that be heat?

[BillM]

It is interesting that the chemistry emulates some of the processes our circulatory system uses. The oxygen is captured and transmitted without damaging the proteins involved.

It would appear that this could be an interesting continuous generation process.

[thackney]

But what is the catalyst for combining the first H2O molecule?

Ignition. If Hydrogen and Oxygen are present together, it takes a spark to start the burning which resultis in heat and H₂O.

[RobRoy]

Back in the late sixties I used to do this with friends. We threw some water, aluminum foil and draino into one of those large glass 7-up bottles and fasten a baloon on top.

It would fill with Hydrogen. We'd then get a bunch together and launch at night with a flaming string and "pow". Very pretty mini-Hindenburgs.

[SampleMan]

Ignition. If Hydrogen and Oxygen are present together, it takes a spark to start the burning which resultis in heat and H2O.

Yes, that was my point. Heat (ignition) combines the molecule. Granted, it gives off more than it uses.

[RobRoy]

Shoot! I've been using dissected squirrels on my roof for years to produce Hydrogen.

Neighbors don't like it though. 'Specially when it's hot.

[RobRoy]

One thing I've learned: If you're gonna stick 'em together, it is not the glue you use (although I prefer Gorilla glue), it's the tools. They're too small to use your fingers to hold 'em together. You just end up having to separate your fingers with a razor blade...

[thackney]

But heat is not required for the process. This chemical reaction can occur at extremely low temperature. A spark is not the same as heat. Heat is not an input to the chemical equation, it is an output.

[texas booster]

very interesting. biological industry may become a reality soon.

I'll get a new thread up this weekend and reference this thread.

[RobRoy]

So, are you trying to tell me that if I have a Hydrogen powered car, the exhaust will be water?


So, like, when the hydrogen and oxygen "burn", they, like, combine?

Sounds like one of those fancy chemical reaction thingees.

[fella]

Hmmmmmmm?

So that's why they refer to us as 'Human Resources'.