S. Korean team develops cheaper hydrogen production method

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean research team has developed a cost-effective method for producing hydrogen from seaweeds, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said on Aug. 4.

According to the ministry, the Daegu University team led by professor Kim Sang-hyoun developed a method for using commonly found bacteria to produce hydrogen from seaweeds. 

The process uses microbes found in sewage treatment that breaks down galactose in seaweeds. The ministry said that unlike previous methods, Kim’s process does not require a costly process of removing unnecessary microbes. 

In the team’s research, the process produced 74 cubic meters of hydrogen from 1 metric ton of seaweed.

The results were published in the journal Bioresource Technology.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)