Eggshells in Hydrogen Fuel Production and as Collagen Source

Filed in archive Energy, Environment and Ecology , Food and Agriculture , Patents and Intellectual Property Rights on September 28, 2007

Researchers have patented a process that uses eggshells to absorb carbon dioxide in a durign hydrogen fuel production, including a unique method for peeling the collagen-containing membrane from the inside of the shells, so that the collagen can be used commercially.

"The key to making pure hydrogen is separating out the carbon dioxide."

Calcium carbonate - a key ingredient in the eggshells - captures 78 percent of carbon dioxide by weight, Fan explained. That means, given equal amounts of carbon dioxide and eggshell, the eggshell would absorb 78 percent of the carbon dioxide.

That makes it the most effective carbon dioxide absorber ever tested.

The researchers also developed a method to recover the collagen-containing membrane inside the eggshells, which may then be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Source: OSU