Process for photosynthetically splitting water
The invention is an improved process for producing gaseous hydrogen and oxygen from water. The process is conducted in a photolytic reactor which contains a water-suspension of a photoactive material containing a hydrogen-liberating catalyst. The reactor also includes a volume for receiving gaseous hydrogen and oxygen evolved from the liquid phase. To avoid oxygen-inactivation of the catalyst, the reactor is evacuated continuously by an external pump which circulates the evolved gases through means for selectively recovering hydrogen therefrom. The pump also cools the reactor by evaporating water from the liquid phase. Preferably, product recovery is effected by selectively diffusing the hydrogen through a heated semipermeable membrane, while maintaining across the membrane a magnetic field gradient which biases the oxygen away from the heated membrane. This promotes separation, minimizes the back-reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, and protects the membrane.
- Assignee:
- The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4476105
- OSTI ID:
- 6384927
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 28 Jan 1982; Other Information: PAT-APPL-343666
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Process for photosynthetically splitting water
Phillips patents sulfur recycle retorting system
Related Subjects
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
CHEMICAL REACTORS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
WATER
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
CATALYSTS
CIRCULATING SYSTEMS
COOLING SYSTEMS
DIFFUSION
GASEOUS DIFFUSION
MEMBRANES
OXYGEN
PUMPS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SYNTHESIS
080106* - Hydrogen- Production- Biosynthesis & Photochemical Processes