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Hydrogen

Hydrogen – Where can we get?

•Hydrogen is not available in nature in as hydrogen.

•It is available as in combination with other elements
- Water (H2O)
  
  Natural Gas (principally CH4)
  
  Gasoline(CH2)
  
  Coal (CH0.8)

How do we make Hydrogen now ?

We make about 9 billion tons/year

95% is used by chemical, metals, electronics and space industries

Current production methods

From methane using steam (80%)

CH4 + 2H2O -> 4H2 + CO2
–1,100 C in presence of a catalyst

Relatively efficient and inexpensive process
Emissions of carbon dioxide ?

Sequestration

Fluctuating cost of natural gas

By product from Chlor-Alkali Production (20%)

2 NaCl (aq) + 2 H2O (l) ---> H2 (g) + Cl2 (g) + 2 NaOH (aq)

–Electrolysis (negligible)
- 2H2O (l) → 2H2 (g) + O2 (g)
- •237.17 kJ/mole of electrical energy is req’d plus 48.7 kJ/mole of energy from the environment

Electrolysis