Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a fermentation system using the mineral wollastonite to produce biohydrogen more efficiently. The mineral acts as a pH buffer, reducing the lag phase of hydrogen production by 50 percent and increasing overall yield by 33 percent. The system also captures carbon dioxide by mineralizing it into calcium carbonate, a stable form of long term storage. A two stage process allows the system to maximize hydrogen output first and then trigger carbonation, reducing the total electricity required for production.
