{"id":3168,"date":"2011-04-22T13:46:56","date_gmt":"2011-04-22T20:46:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=3168"},"modified":"2011-04-22T13:49:00","modified_gmt":"2011-04-22T20:49:00","slug":"water-pull-tabs-and-vinegar-as-a-fuel-source","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/water-pull-tabs-and-vinegar-as-a-fuel-source\/","title":{"rendered":"Water, Pull Tabs and Vinegar as a Fuel Source?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A professor and student at the Technical Superior School of Industrial Engineering and Aeronautics of Terrassa (ETSEIAT), part of the Politechnical University of Catalonia (UPC), have unveiled a radio-controlled car that runs on aluminum soda pop can rings, water and vinegar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Is that a bottle of vinegar in the background?<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Professor Xavier Salue\u00f1a and his student, Aleix Llovet, held an April 14 press conference concerning dAlH2Orean, part of the project called “Aluminium,” for the manufacturing of micro cars with 5-60 horsepower using recycled aluminum as their primary fuel.\u00a0 The miniature vehicle\u2019s propulsion system has been patented.\u00a0 The car can run on aluminum soda (or beer) can rings, \u201cor residual parts of aluminum with hydroxide of sodium (which acts as a catalyst) dissolved in water,\u201d according to its developers.\u00a0 \u201cThe whole operation is based on the self-generation of hydrogen created by the reaction between aluminum and sodium hydroxide.\u00a0 This self-generated hydrogen feeds the fuel cell that produces the energy,\u201d according to the team\u2019s press release.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe residue of aluminum and sodium hydroxide dissolved in water are placed inside the [car\u2019s tank]. The aluminum reacts with sodium hydroxide and generates hydrogen, which is filtered through a vinegar filter with water to remove traces of hydroxides. The hydrogen passes to another filter containing silica gel ball where it loses moisture to enhance its performance. Finally, hydrogen reaches the stack generating electricity through a membrane that separates electrons from the protons until they meet again in an environment of oxygen, producing water, and energy that powers the engine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Salue\u00f1a and Llovet further explain that, \u201cThis system is absolutely clean, it does not generate C02 emissions and closes the cycle of aluminum, reducing pollution caused by its extraction, the use of aluminum is because it is a residual and when…in contact with sodium hydroxide produces hydrogen and aluminum hydroxide and sodium hydroxide, which can be reused. The aluminum hydroxide can be converted in alumina throughout a calcination process. With the alumina, aluminum can be obtained, in this case is more pure than the aluminum [that] is currently recycled, and the same purity which is extracted from [mined] bauxite, which is very dangerous for the environment. Moreover, the only residue that occurs within the filter vinegar, which react with traces of sodium hydroxide, is salt water is the same type that gives flavor to the bag of crisps (sodium acetate).\u201d<\/p>\n