Re: Molecular Filters

From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Mon Mar 17 2003 - 14:52:01 MST

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    On Mon, Mar 17, 2003 at 12:38:58PM -0500, Spudboy100@aol.com wrote:
    > http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030317074038.htm
    >
    > I wonder if these filters could separate H² from Water?

    That would be cute, but I doubt it. The reaction 2H2+O2 -> 2H2O is quite
    exothermic, so to get it to go in the other direction you need to add
    energy. However, statistically there is a bit of 2H2O -> 2H2 + O2 going
    on all the time. Unfortunately, the equilibrium constant is strongly
    biased in the water direction. The calculations on
    http://www.psigate.ac.uk/newsite/reference/plambeck/chem1/p01111.htm
    show that you get a partial pressure of 2.6 x 10-22 Pa for H2 from water
    at normal conditions. That is essentially nothing. There may be
    conditions on surfaces where the equilibrium becomes nicer, and at
    higher pressure I think you would get more H2. But it doesn't seem to be
    as efficient as electrolysis.

    However, a salt filter would be great! Just imagine the applications of
    efficient desalination.

    -- 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
    asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
    GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y
    


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