A new method for fuel production converts bananas into hydrogen

Scientists at Switzerland’s EPLF have developed a new method for pyrolysis that produces both syngas, and a useful, solid-carbon biochar. The new method uses a xenon lamp as a source of high-power energy. The biomass absorbs the energy and this triggers conversion into syngas and biochar.

The EPLF researchers used the technique on materials such as banana peels, corn cobs, orange peels, coffee beans and coconut shells. These were dried and ground to a powder, which was exposed to the xenon flashes. Each kilogramme of biomass powder generated 100 litres of hydrogen and 330 grammes of biochar, which is a very good return.

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