Can septic tanks generate hydrogen?

Question

Septic tanks can generate methane. Can they also create hydrogen? Bacteria , as well as algae, creates hydrogen, right? Maybe we could turn human waste into fuel? Have large community collection tanks, and maybe add somthing to this like a certain temp, to aid in the process? Any ideas on this one?

Answer 1

can generate some methane which can be used for heating.large quantities can be used for power generation.then solid waste can be used as manure

Answer 2

Oh! I had to change my answer. See the source for biological hydrogen production.

Answer 3

NOOO!!! not that simple

not all bacteria are the same bacteria, and human waste, even if it did, would be discusting

Answer 4

Methane is just as good as hydrogen and a lot easier to generate from sewage. Methane can be used in specialized fuel cells to generate electricity. The first link mentions several demonstration plants including a 1 megawatt plant being build in Renton Washington that is using sewage generated biogas to power a fuel cell to make electricity.

The second link is to a study titled: "Toward a Renewable  

Power Supply:  The Use of Bio-based Fuels in Stationary Fuel Cells". That sounds just like what you are talking about. The following is from the Executive Summary of that report:

"The states of the Northeast U.S. share significant natural resources in their forest and agricultural lands.  Policymakers throughout the region have long been interested in finding ways to maximize the use of biomass resources to the benefit of their many public and private constituencies.  Recent research indicates a significant, quantifiable opportunity to expand the biomass power industry through the use of advanced technologies.  With upwards of 7000 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity nationwide, biomass power supports more than 66,000 jobs and is the second-most utilized renewable electricity resource in the U.S.  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) predicts that advanced technologies currently under development will enable the biomass industry to install over 13,000 MW of additional biomass power by 2010 – enough to create an additional 100,000 jobs. "

It sounds very interesting.

Answer 5

You're quite right but the amount is negligible and costs to transform the waste is not feasible at this time. They are starting to use it for fertilizer.