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Researchers plan to produce hydrogen fuel using plant technology

Energy crisis has already entered its golden era. Now, in the huddled up run to nullify it, we are stumbling upon sources that were earlier not even known to exist, at least under the cover of human understanding. Photosynthesis has been one of these long known and understood, yet untapped methods. Photosynthesis is the soul process of energy generation for plants, but who could think of it to suffice the energy hunger of the millions of brained bipeds today? Well, yes, today scientists at many renowned institutes the world over have discovered the potential of this process to biomanufacture an important biofuel – hydrogen.

Souped up photosynthesis produces H2

The process of photosynthesis actually uses sunlight to split a molecule of water into two sister molecules of oxygen and hydrogen. With a slight twist and turn in the enzymes that are prescribed by nature in this process, it might be possible to get a constant harvest of hydrogen at a rate that would defeat the natural one – twice it.

In the natural process, three groups of native enzymes – Photosystem 1, FNR and NADP are used. In the small solar device that has been made to conduct the mimicked process, FNR would be replaced by the enzyme, Hydrogenase, which acts as a potent catalyst for combining loose electrons with hydrogen ions to give birth to hydrogen molecules. Thus, by utilizing the same process, with a slightly different cocktail of enzymes, the end product, which is sugar in the natural process, can be altered to vomit out a perennial supply of hydrogen biofuel.

But till now, this is just a thought. That should not be disheartening because every practical idea had once been a singular thought. Our researchers are working towards the gratified realization of this thought. The faster it is realized, the better it is. The specific reason that hydrogen biofuel does not leave anything but water behind when it burns completely makes this discovery all the more enticing.

Via: ABC

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