2019 | Japan | Hayato Matsumoto, Hisato Kizu

Combined system of energy-saving H2O-electrolysis and eco-friendly battery: simultaneous production of H2 gas and in situ treatment of eutrophication

Water issue adressed: Too dirty

Eutrophication is mainly caused by oversupply of nitrogen and phosphorus, and exerts negative impacts on ecosystem and safe drinking water source all over the world. In this project, a novel system was developed by combining energy-saving H2O electrolysis with an eco-friendly iron carbon battery, which continuously removes nitrate and phosphate. This system utilizes the oxidation/reduction of iron to realize low-voltage H2O electrolysis to produce H2 and can collect phosphorus, as well as it reuses solid waste (used tea leaves) and uses solar energy. The simple structure of this system also enables us to easily apply to on-site treatment of eutrophicated water in lakes and ponds in addition to the possible incorporation into the conventional wastewater facilities or septic tanks.

This is how I came up with the idea for this project:

We developed originally the hydrogen gas production by the energy-saving water electrolysis which used ferric iron, used tea leaves, and sunlight. As a result of using an iron carbon battery as a power supply, phosphate was removed by the battery, and nitrate was removed by the produced hydrogen gas.

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Ania Andersch

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