A Cambridge University team made the device with simple materials using a paint sprayer—offering a possible dual fix for plastic pollution and dirty hydrogen production
Plastic is made out of more than just hydrogen and the article doesn’t mention anything about what else comes out of this device or what happens to the bits that aren’t hydrogen.
Like I’m guessing this is more of a “way to mine hydrogen out of certain types of platic waste” than a “we’ve solved plastic waste and hydrogen production!” Not saying it’s a bad thing, just that part of the story is still missing that could turn this from amazing to just good (or maybe even not good depending on what exactly happens to the rest of the material).
Oh also just thought of another angle that could become problematic like CO2 generation over the centuries has resulted in global warming: if that device only produces hydrogen from the plastic and not 1 oxygen molecule for every 2 hydrogens, burning that hydrogen will use up oxygen and create more water.
Compared to hydrogen produced from electrolysis that also produces the balancing oxygen and uses up water such that the ratio of H and O as well as the total amount of water doesn’t change over time.
At small scales, it doesn’t really matter, but the same could be said for basically any pollution and well gestures around. It didn’t start out like this for any of them.
Plastic is made out of more than just hydrogen and the article doesn’t mention anything about what else comes out of this device or what happens to the bits that aren’t hydrogen.
Like I’m guessing this is more of a “way to mine hydrogen out of certain types of platic waste” than a “we’ve solved plastic waste and hydrogen production!” Not saying it’s a bad thing, just that part of the story is still missing that could turn this from amazing to just good (or maybe even not good depending on what exactly happens to the rest of the material).
Oh also just thought of another angle that could become problematic like CO2 generation over the centuries has resulted in global warming: if that device only produces hydrogen from the plastic and not 1 oxygen molecule for every 2 hydrogens, burning that hydrogen will use up oxygen and create more water.
Compared to hydrogen produced from electrolysis that also produces the balancing oxygen and uses up water such that the ratio of H and O as well as the total amount of water doesn’t change over time.
At small scales, it doesn’t really matter, but the same could be said for basically any pollution and well gestures around. It didn’t start out like this for any of them.