Process for photosynthetically splitting water
In one form of the invention, hydrogen is produced by providing a reactor containing a body of water. The water contains photolytic material, i.e., photoactive material containing a hydrogen-catalyst. The interior of the reactor is isolated from atmosphere and includes a volume for receiving gases evolved from the body of water. The photolytic material is exposed to light to effect photosynthetic splitting of the water into gaseous hydrogen and oxygen. The gas-receiving volume is continuously evacuated by pumping to promote evolution of gaseous hydrogen and oxygen into that volume and to withdraw them therefrom. In another form of the invention, separation of the hydrogen and oxygen is effected by selectively diffusing the hydrogen through a heated semipermeable membrane in a separation zone while maintaining across the zone a magnetic field gradient biasing the oxygen away from the membrane. In a third form of the invention, the withdrawn gas is contacted with a membrane blocking flow of water vapor to the region for effecting recovery of the hydrogen. In a fourth embodiment, the invention comprises a process for selectively recovering hydrogen from a gas mixture comprising hydrogen and oxygen. The process is conducted in a separation zone and comprises contacting the mixture with a semipermeable membrane effecting selective diffusion of hydrogen while maintaining across the zone a magnetic field gradient effecting movement of oxygen in a direction away from the membrane.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- PATENTS-US-A343666
- Application Number:
- ON: DE83002383
- OSTI ID:
- 6748659
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
14 SOLAR ENERGY
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
BIOMIMETIC PROCESSES
CHEMICAL REACTORS
OXYGEN
PHOTOLYSIS
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
PRODUCTION
WATER
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
SYNTHESIS
080106* - Hydrogen- Production- Biosynthesis & Photochemical Processes
140505 - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)