A breakthrough from RMIT University in Australia, could revolutionise clean fuel production and wastewater treatment—by turning sewage into green hydrogen.
Researchers have developed a technique that extracts valuable metals from wastewater and uses them to produce hydrogen without emissions or the need for purified water.
The system addresses both water scarcity and pollution while creating sustainable fuel.
“By using wastewater, the process not only reduces pollution but also makes use of materials that are often considered waste,” said Professor Nicky Eshtiaghi from RMIT’s School of Engineering.
The method uses absorbent carbon electrodes—derived from agricultural waste—which attract and capture metals like nickel, chromium and platinum.
These act as catalysts to speed up electrochemical reactions that split water into hydrogen and oxygen. “Our innovation taps into wastewater’s inherent materials, eliminating the need for purified water or additional processing steps,” said Associate Professor Nasir Mahmood.
During lab tests powered by renewable energy, the system continuously produced hydrogen for 18 days with little performance loss.
The oxygen released can also be used to improve treatment plant efficiency.
With the global push for green hydrogen, this innovation offers a viable alternative to traditional freshwater-dependent production methods, especially in water-stressed regions.
The team is now seeking industry and government partners to scale the system and test it on varied wastewater types.
The study was published in ACS Electrochemistry.
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