We recently wrote about how hydrogen power could be used to clean up commercial ammonia production. Now, another group of researchers is also exploring the symbiotic cleaning powers of this green energy source. A team of engineers has come up with a catalyst that could remove pharmaceutical toxins from wastewater while generating hydrogen fuel (H2).
The strategy uses a catalyst, made from fused titanium dioxide and cobalt oxide, as well as alcohols or sugars to quickly remove wastewater contaminants while producing H2. Although new alcohol or sugar must be added each time the process occurs, it is otherwise renewable and powered by solar energy.
Although the technique is still in its early phases of development, the researchers are confident that this catalyst could be used in the near future to both produce green energy and clean up contaminated water.
