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."
Just the opposite. Heat combines them.
Now people will kill each other for fuel?
I guess we will have to what and see. If this proves to be fairly inexpensive, then the Arab world is screwed.
A little heat makes steam.
A lot of heat and pressure makes very hot steam.
Actually, combining them generates heat....
No blood for blood!!
Thanks for posting the Spock "fascinating" pic. Bump for later reading.
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?
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.
Ignition. If Hydrogen and Oxygen are present together, it takes a spark to start the burning which resultis in heat and H2O.
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.
Yes, that was my point. Heat (ignition) combines the molecule. Granted, it gives off more than it uses.
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...
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.
very interesting. biological industry may become a reality soon.
I'll get a new thread up this weekend and reference this thread.
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.
So that's why they refer to us as 'Human Resources'.
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