REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CIBINONG -- Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) still continued to develop research to produce hydrogen fuel by utilizing marine bacteria "Rhodobium marinum". According to researcher of Biotechnology Research Center LIPI, Peza Batamarlia Reko, this study could be an option for Indonesia to be less dependent on fossil fuels.
"In Taiwan and Greece, this technology has been used," said Peza on the sidelines of an event "Biotechnology is Fun" held by LIPI in Cibinong Science Center, Biotechnology Research Center LIPI Cibinong, West Java, Thursday (19/11).
The research that has been started since 2003 was about how hydrogen gas produced from marine bacteria Rhodobium marinum, is converted into electrical energy. Rhodobium marinum is set to emit hydrogen through fermentation, after the bacteria absorbed substrate which has a high carbon level.
Actually, the fermentation result is not purely hydrogen. Therefore, the researcher utilize microalgae Spirulina sp. to absorb other gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) which can be used for photosynthesis.
"Meanwhile, the pH level of bacteria should remain in the range of 6 to 7. To keep it, we use natrium hydroxide (NaOH)," Peza added.
Hydrogen collected, then is used to rotate a dynamo, which has been modified to absorb oxygen from the air. Both types of gas will serve as the anode and the cathode that can produce electrical energy.
"We are targeting by 2045, this can be applied to a motor vehicle," he said.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika