Khaberni - A scientific team in South Korea has developed a new method to convert sugarcane waste into hydrogen fuel using sunlight, an achievement that could radically alter the future of clean energy.
The researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have managed to use "bagasse," or the solid fibers leftover after crushing sugarcane juice, with a photovoltaic electrode—a special type of electrical pole—made of silicon to produce hydrogen efficiently.
According to the website "ecoportal," the system relies on converting the sugarcane fibers into furfural, a chemical compound derived from plants, and then introducing it into a special photovoltaic system.
One of the copper electrodes performs the oxidation of furfural and releases hydrogen, while the silicon electrode separates water molecules, producing an additional amount of hydrogen.
In this way, the amount of fuel produced doubles compared to traditional methods, making the project a candidate to become a global model for green energy.
What sets this innovation apart is that it does not require external electricity, as it balances the furfural reaction with the necessary electric voltage, while keeping the silicon electrode underwater cool and stable, preserving the system's efficiency throughout the daylight hours.
The furfural also transforms into furfurylic acid, a valuable chemical substance that can be sold, adding an additional economic benefit to the process.
This technology is characterized by its scalability, especially in regions that produce sugarcane, where utilizing agricultural waste helps solve two problems at once: disposing of waste and producing clean, carbon-free hydrogen.
The project has shown a production rate of 1.40 millimoles of hydrogen per square centimeter per hour, which is four times the goal set by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The remaining challenge is to stabilize the system outside the laboratory and ensure processing of larger quantities of furfural, but the global potential of this innovation appears immense, representing a significant step towards a future of sustainable energy from renewable resources and at a low cost.
