MIT Researchers Harness Seawater, Aluminum, and Coffee for Clean Hydrogen Production

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a groundbreaking method to produce hydrogen fuel using a surprising combination of materials: seawater, aluminum, and coffee.

Pure aluminum, commonly found in soda cans and other sources, reacts with water after being broken into small, pebble-like pieces. This reaction produces hydrogen gas and aluminum hydroxide. However, a natural oxide layer that forms on the aluminum’s surface when exposed to oxygen in the air or water typically hinders or prevents this reaction from occurring.

To overcome this obstacle, the researchers employed a rare metal alloy composed of gallium and indium. This alloy effectively removes the oxide layer, allowing the aluminum to react with water and generate hydrogen gas. Unfortunately, the high cost of this alloy makes this approach economically unfeasible unless a method for recovering and reusing the alloy can be found.

To address this issue, the team turned to seawater. Seawater can dissolve the alloy, making it possible to recover and reuse it. However, the reaction between aluminum and seawater is significantly slower than with pure water. To accelerate this process, the researchers made a surprising discovery: coffee grounds can dramatically…