GH2 Project Converts Ethanol Into Green Hydrogen and Valuable Acetal

The Horizon Europe-funded GH2 Project estimated that the generation of one kilogram of green hydrogen from 87 litres of ethanol can also yield 72 litres of acetal.

Researchers working on the project published their findings in Global Challenges, a journal that seeks to provide solutions around issues relating to climate change, sustainability and energy production.

In the article, Dr Oleksandr Savateev, Dr Vitaliy Shvalagin and Professor Junwang Tang investigated the economic viability of simultaneously producing acetal and green hydrogen.

“Most commercial hydrogen producers use steam methane reforming followed by the extraction of this valuable gas” explains Dr Oleksandr Savateev.

“Although green energy can be harnessed to heat water, the costs associated with doing so are prohibitive”.

“The GH2 project seeks to harvest solar energy, bioethanol and water to induce a chemical reaction that produces green hydrogen and high-value C2+ chemicals”.

“As part of the project, we set out to investigate the economic viability of our approach by designing a metal-free graphic carbon nitride photocatalyst that can convert bioethanol into high-value chemicals, such as acetal”.

“During that conversion process, hydrogen is extracted from a solution of bioethanol in water using the solar energy we harvested”.

While the monetary impact of their current research is limited, Dr Savateev suggests that the simultaneous production of green hydrogen alongside valuable C2+ chemicals, such as acetal or acetaldehyde, can offset the cost of producing green hydrogen.

“Acetal is used across many industries. Most of us encounter it in food, textiles, photography and rubber”.

“As part of the GH2 project, we’re seeking to lower the cost of producing green hydrogen by manufacturing it alongside valuable chemicals like acetal”.

“If we’re successful, future green hydrogen producers could also become manufacturers of C2+ chemicals”.

“As a result, the potential impact of our project could impact numerous sectors, promote job creation and advance environmental sustainability”.

The GH2 project is the key project in Crowdhelix’s Hydrogen Helix. Its CEO, Michael Browne, believes that the research is indicative of the creative approaches being pursued by future-orientated experts working on collaborative projects.

“From transport to heavy industry, green hydrogen, produced using electricity from renewable sources, has the potential to decarbonise vast swathes of the global economy”.

“The main inhibitor to unleashing the power of green hydrogen is cost. Worldwide, researchers and scientists are working tirelessly to find ways to lower the production cost of this transformative energy source”.

“The Hydrogen Helix has been specifically designed to accelerate innovation in this space by fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing between research teams, innovative businesses and investors”.

“Our end-to-end open innovation platform allows researchers and industry experts to build strategic partnerships and showcase innovations to end users as soon as they’re developed”.

The article is titled “Increasing Profitability of Ethanol Photoreforming by Simultaneous Production of H2 and Acetal” and is published in Global Challenges.

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This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101070721. The website reflects only the authors' view and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.