Modular bioreactor for clean hydrogen production
This technology uses a carefully designed set of enzymes—biological catalysts—to break down plant-based sugars (like starch or cellulose) and convert them into hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide, using only water and no heat or pressure. The process works at room temperature in a single reactor or a series of reactors, achieving yields approaching the theoretical maximum. Because it starts from cheap, abundant agricultural feedstocks and avoids expensive high-temperature equipment, it offers a potential low-cost route to producing hydrogen as a clean fuel.
What you could build
A modular biohydrogen reactor system that converts agricultural waste or starch feedstocks into hydrogen for fuel cell applications, sold to energy companies, hydrogen fuel producers, or large agricultural processors seeking to monetize biomass byproducts.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia agricultural operations or biomass-rich cooperatives, as well as defense installations seeking on-site hydrogen generation for fuel cells, would be plausible partners or licensees.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Yi-Heng Percival ZHANG, Jonathan Mielenz
- Granted
- July 3, 2012
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 8211681
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.