Scientists develop value-add hydrogen method without CO2

Scientists from Peking University in China and Cardiff University in the UK have developed a new hydrogen production method that eliminates direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while producing acetic acid, a high-value industrial chemical.

The process uses a bimetallic catalyst to react bioethanol, sourced from agricultural waste, with water at 270C. This is significantly lower than the 400C to 600C typically required in conventional hydrogen production using steam methane reforming, which is energy-intensive and puts out large amounts of CO2.

Instead of emitting CO2, the process also makes acetic acid, a widely used industrial chemical with an annual global consumption exceeding 15 million tonnes.