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Scientists from Federal University of Ceará Use Cashew Pulp, a Residue Common in the Northeast, for Green Hydrogen. The Expectation is That Biorefineries Will Be Built Soon.
The cashew pulp, a residue commonly found in the northeastern agribusiness, has become raw material for green hydrogen production, in an unprecedented and low-cost process developed by scientists from the Department of Chemical Engineering (DEQ) at the Federal University of Ceará.
Researchers from Federal University of Ceará Improve Technique for Green Hydrogen Production
The team of scientists, who are now working on improving the technology, also estimates the installation of biorefineries using cashew pulp, generating not only green hydrogen but also other derivatives through a sustainable route.
The possibility of obtaining green hydrogen and other products from cashew pulp allows the scientists from Federal University of Ceará to study the feasibility of installing biorefineries. Just like oil refineries, which process this oil to produce various derivatives such as gasoline, plastics, lubricants, and asphalt, the biorefinery would use the same raw material, cashew pulp, to obtain several products.
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Hydrogen and Its Strong Economic Potential
Hydrogen gas is considered a promising fuel of strategic interest, whose consolidation is expected in the near future, due to being a safe and sustainable energy system. With strong economic potential, its combustion generates up to twice the energy compared to petroleum-derived fuels.
Furthermore, it does not emit pollutants during combustion, such as CO2, thus providing an alternative for controlling greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change.
Other Advances in the Green Hydrogen Sector
Despite all the advantages mentioned above, the production and storage of green hydrogen still require significant financial investments. Currently, the main method of fuel production is through electrolysis, a non-spontaneous chemical process that requires a high amount of water and energy.
The new method developed by researchers at the Federal University of Ceará aims to reduce energy expenditure and water consumption by biotechnologically producing this gas through a more sustainable process.
In addition to this initiative with cashew pulp, the University of São Paulo (USP) has revealed plans to establish the world’s first green hydrogen production plant from ethanol. The conversion of the fuel generated from sugarcane, of which the country is the largest global producer, will be carried out through a chemical process called steam reforming.
The new plant involves heating a mixture of ethanol and steam inside a reactor, reaching a temperature of 700 degrees Celsius, resulting in the production of green hydrogen.
Ceará Receives Billion-Dollar Investments
Back in the state of Ceará, the mayor of Caucaia, Vitor Salim, met with representatives of Casa dos Ventos Renewable Energies (S/A) to discuss the installation of a Green Hydrogen plant in the expansion of the Export Processing Zone 2 (ZPE2), an area of the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex (CIPP).
The estimated investment for the first phase of the project is US$ 900 million, equivalent to R$ 4.3 billion. The agreement was finalized in July, and Valim emphasizes that the green hydrogen unit in Ceará will trigger a great chain of production, industrialization, and development for the municipality.
According to the manager, the meeting was another essential step for the advancement of renewable energy in the city, stating that it represents the beginning of new investments for Caucaia, along with incentives for job and income generation.
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