Margarite Parker
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Solar Thermal Hydrogen Production

Education

  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder

Renewable hydrogen can be produced through metal oxide water splitting cycles like the iron oxide cycle. This cycle requires extremely high temperatures, typically from concentrated solar energy.Ìý However, biomass synthesis gas can also be used with moderate temperatures as another renewable way to reduce iron oxide. If biomass and Fe3O4Ìýare co-fed into a solar reactor, both syngas and reduced iron are produced.ÌýThe reduced iron can then be oxidized with water at low temperatures to produce hydrogen and regenerate Fe3O4.Ìý The feasibility of this process depends on the kinetics of both the reduction and oxidation reactions.ÌýEffects of temperature, water concentration, and particle size on the oxidation step are being investigated.