Microwave process decarbonises fossil fuels and generates hydrogen
New catalytic approach turns hydrocarbons into hydrogen fuel and solid carbon, which could be stored underground or turned into high-value products
Researchers in the UK and Saudi Arabia have devised a technique to generate high purity hydrogen from fossil fuels that doesn’t liberate carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Their microwave-initiated dehydrogenation process uses inexpensive iron particle catalysts and works on heavy crude oil through to diesel, petrol and methane. However, other researchers in the field remain skeptical about how efficient the technique is.