How do hydrogen fuel cells work?


After so many successes in recent weeks, it feels like there is electricity in the air at COP26 – and on the minds of its attendees. All throughout the exhibition fl oors and lecture theatres, the prospects of fully- electric transport are being considered and displayed. But among the myriad questions that all of these speeches and showcases raise, one is unavoidable: how are we going to cleanly and effi ciently generate all of this electricity?


Many, including Tesla, Inc. CEO Elon Musk, have been evangelical about the potentials of lithium batteries, pouring millions into mining and manufacturing operations in hopes of mastering this scarce resource. But a persistent, long-standing fringe have a different obsession. And this time, they’re after the most abundant element in the universe.


What’s the Big Idea?


In recent years, hydrogen fuel cells have proven immensely scalable and have come to be used in growing numbers of planes, trains and automobiles (if you’d like more information on this, take a look at our articles on each of these developments). For many, however, these fuel cells remain misunderstood, causing a great deal of hesitation in up-take.


Perhaps, then, it is worth going back to basics and learning the secrets of this simple but potentially world- changing technology. So, let’s start at the beginning: what’s a fuel cell?


Well, the simple answer is that it’s a particular type of component on an electrical circuit which uses a chemical reaction to produce an electrical current. It’s not a battery, which stores all that it needs internally and thus, runs out. Instead, a fuel cell receives material from outside for its chemical reaction, so it doesn’t – in principle – need to be replaced.


Now, chemical reactions are complicated, to say the least, but the basic facts in the case of fuel cells are relatively intuitive. Firstly, you have your fuel, the reactants whose electrons will produce a current in the circuit – in the case of a hydrogen fuel cell, these are hydrogen (H2


) and oxygen (O2 ). Then, you’ve got your


electrodes – two per cell, to be exact – which rob your reactants of electrons and pump them into and out of the circuit. In a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen enters the cell at an electrode which maintains a positive charge, thereby attracting to itself the hydrogen’s electrons and repelling its protons. The opposite happens to oxygen, which meets the cell where the electrode is negatively charged, as its electrons are repelled, and protons attracted. These repelled electrons are then pulled through the circuit towards the positively-charged electrode - it is this movement, from cathode (the negatively-charged electrode) to anode (the positively- charged electrode), which constitutes the circuit’s electrical current.


And last but certainly not least, you have your electrolyte solution in which your electrodes are submerged. It is by means of this solution that your electron-less hydrogen atoms move from cathode to anode, there to become water (H2


O) with oxygen. Indeed, that’s the kicker: the singular chemical by-product of a hydrogen fuel cell is water. Not carbon dioxide, not methane – just water.


From these humble beginnings, hydrogen fuel cells get more complicated and more targeted in their application. But they retain these basic principles, which ensure that they are not only totally emission-free, but convenient and almost limitless in capacity. For just a taste of where hydrogen fuel cells might take us, take a look at the studies collated below and read through our article on What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?


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Thailand LAB & FutureCHEM International 2021 virtual event attracts more than 7,700 participants from 34 countries!


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VNU Asia Pacifi c in collaboration with Science and Technology Trade Association (STTA) and the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) reveals the success of the event of Thailand Lab International 2021 and FutureChem International 2021, held on 27-29 October 2021 through a fully online platform for the fi rst time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of September the Bio Asia Pacifi c 2021 was also held through a fully online platform. The event of Thailand Lab International 2021 and FutureChem International 2021 has received much positive feedback from many participants working in the scientifi c laboratory equipment, life sciences and chemical industries who visited the exhibition and attended the online conferences and seminars.


Thailand Lab International and FutureChem International welcomed 7,737 participants from 34 countries, divided into 5,613 conference attendees who attended the 33 conferences and seminars by 130 keynote speakers and renown experts from various agencies from both public and private sectors. 2,124 trade visitors visited the virtual exhibition to establish invaluable contacts for manufacturers, distributors, end-users, and buyers into this platform. Bio Asia Pacifi c had welcomed 2,707 online trade visitors, 2,156 of whom were conference attendees. These events highlighted that the interest in laboratory technology, life sciences and chemical industries has never wavered and there is increased demand for new technologies and innovations from both local and international providers to improve research and development, quality control and assurance and production effi ciency.


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Most of us don’t even notice all of the copiers and Sharpies, anti-bac sprays and Pritt Sticks that we encounter on a daily basis – they’re just bland, unremarkable features of our landscape. But all of these objects, and many more, may be concealing a danger behind their boring exteriors.


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That danger’s name: volatile organic compounds. Scary, right? What are volatile organic compounds?


If you want a properly thorough scientifi c explanation of what VOCs are, you’ll have to read our longer article on What Exactly Are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)? But, in brief, VOCs are compounds wholly or partially composed of carbon atoms bonded either with carbon atoms or other elements that evaporate signifi cantly at room temperature and are mostly insoluble in water. And they’re in everything. They’re in paints, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials, copiers, copy paper, printers, glues, adhesive tape, plasters, wood varnish, nail varnish, lip-sticks, air fresheners, permanent markers – the list goes on.


So, as you can probably tell, it’s kind of important to fi nd out whether volatile organic compounds are safe, or not.


How are we exposed to volatile organic compounds?


For the most part, humans ingest VOCs through inhalation or through contact with the eyes or skin – as with pretty much all pollutants, volatile organic compounds are most dangerous when inhaled, as the vapourised compounds are able to pass through the thin membrane of the lungs


56708pr@reply-direct.com How harmful are VOCs to health?


into the blood-stream. Such exposure is possible in a wide variety of circumstances – take a look at our article on the most at-risk workplace.


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China to dominate new petrochemicals projects in Asia through 2025


China is likely to commence the operations of 412 petrochemicals projects between 2021 and 2025, accounting for about 50% of the total upcoming petrochemicals project starts in Asia by 2025, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.


GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Global Petrochemicals New-Build and Expansion Projects Outlook, 2021-2025’ reveals that out of 412 projects expected to commence operations in China, polypropylene projects would be at 45, propylene projects would be at 39, and polyethylene projects at 29.


Bhargavi Gandham, Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “China is one of the leading consumers and importers of petrochemicals globally. The large number of upcoming petrochemicals projects in the country can be ascribed to its goal of reaching petrochemicals self-suffi ciency.”


GlobalData also notes that propylene projects would constitute around nine percent of all petrochemical projects’ starts in China during the period 2021 to 2025. Among the upcoming propylene projects, the Shandong Yulong Petrochemical Longkou Propylene Plant 1 project leads with a production capacity of 2.30 mtpa. The project is presently in the construction stage and is expected to start operations in 2025.


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According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States’ federal institution responsible for regulating and monitoring pollution, volatile organic compounds like benzene and methylene chloride, two VOCs which can be found in most paints, are carcinogens. In particular, exposure to vapourised benzene is explicitly linked to anaemia and leukaemia. For targeted solutions to benzene exposure, have a watch of this seminar on the topic, produced by one of our partners, Ion Science Ltd. – just click through to the link and register to access a recording of the discussion.


In general, ingestion of volatile organic compounds induces effects ranging from mild epidermal irritation and irritation of the respiratory tract to generalised corruption of the central nervous system and many forms of cancer. Of course, the long-term neurological symptoms are the most worrying, with the drastic impairment memory, reaction times, balance and hand-eye co-ordination being signifi cant, life-changing consequences. Even the minor, peripheral effects are troubling, including as they do tremors and inhibited motor function – and that’s not to mention the potential mood-disequilibrating effects, like irritability, depression and fatigue.


Perhaps more frightening than the effects themselves, however, is the long incubation period, measured in months and years, before such


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nasty symptoms begin to present. Unfortunately, this is even the case with low-level exposure.


What can you do about exposure to volatile organic compounds?


The fi rst necessity is detection, of course. Without knowing which VOCs are present and in what concentration, you won’t know the risks. So, the question becomes: how can you effectively detect volatile organic compounds?


Well, as we have already discussed, VOCs are most dangerous when inhaled, so monitoring air quality, especially indoor air quality, is a priority. In order to do this, then, you’ll need an instrument capable of continuous emission monitoring.


Continuous emission monitoring (CEM) is a method designed to determine the concentration of specifi ed contaminants in the air, mainly using a sample probe to collect the sample, an analyser to determine concentrations and some sort of fi ltration system to obstruct materials which threaten the system. Such systems come in all shapes and sizes – there’s bound to be one perfectly tailored to all of your particular needs. For more information on CEM and its applications, it’s worth looking through our recently-published guide to Continuous Emission Monitoring.


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