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Salt Water as Fuel

WHEN AN INVENTOR UNEXPECTEDLY SET FIRE TO A TEST TUBE OF SALT WATER, HE OPENED THE DOOR FOR NEW RESEARCH ON ENERGY PRODUCTION AND WATER TREATMENT.  IT’S BURNING NEWS ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

WHEN JOHN KANZIUS APPLIED RADIO WAVES TO SALT WATER, HE WAS ABLE TO LIGHT IT WITH A MATCH.  IT SOUNDS UNLIKELY, BUT RUSTUM ROY OF PENN STATE UNIVERSITY SAYS THE STORY DOES HOLD WATER.  HE SAYS THE WATER IS BEING BROKEN DOWN INTO HYDROGEN, OXYGEN, AND SALT.  THE HYDROGEN BURNS AND THEN REJOINS THE OXYGEN TO FORM DISTILLED WATER.

THE DISCOVERY MAY LEAD TO NEW METHODS OF DESALINATING WATER OR ISOLATING HYDROGEN FOR USE IN FUEL CELLS. 

THERE’S ALSO BEEN SPECULATION THAT SALT WATER COULD ONE DAY BE USED AS FUEL, BUT ROY SAYS IT’S MUCH TOO EARLY TO TELL.  RESEARCHERS MUST FIRST DETERMINE HOW MUCH ENERGY CAN BE PRODUCED VERSUS HOW MUCH IT TAKES TO CONVERT THE WATER TO FUEL.

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Read more from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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