TOKYO – Ebara, the Japanese industrial machinery and plant engineering company, is working on technology to produce environmentally friendly turquoise hydrogen. It is also promoting its method of gasifying and recycling plastic waste.
“Turquoise” hydrogen is created using methane pyrolysis, the thermal decomposition of natural gas (mostly methane) into hydrogen and solid carbon that can be sold rather than sequestered.
No carbon dioxide is released during methane pyrolysis itself. Whether or not the entire process is “green” depends on the type of energy used. Ebara hopes to commercialize its process by 2026.
Products derived from solid carbon include carbon black, carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes. Carbon black is used to make pigments, tires and other rubber products.
Carbon fiber is used in aircraft parts, wind turbine blades, golf clubs and many other products. Carbon nanotubes are used in various applications including structural reinforcement, coatings, vehicle and body armor, and electronics.