Electrolysis is a promising option for hydrogen production from renewable resources. Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This reaction takes place in a unit called an electrolyzer. 

Like fuel cells, electrolyzers consist of an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte. Different electrolyzers function in slightly different ways, mainly due to the different type of electrolyte material involved.

Water reacts at the anode to form oxygen and positively charged hydrogen ions (protons).

The electrons flow through an external circuit and the hydrogen ions selectively move across the PEM to the cathode.

At the cathode, hydrogen ions combine with electrons from the external circuit to form hydrogen gas.

Anode Reaction: 2H2O → O2 + 4H+ + 4e-

Cathode Reaction: 4H+ + 4e- → 2H2

Effects of global warming on the Earth

1. Melting of Glaciers:

Due to increased global warming, the level of the sea will rise which will lead to flooding and this will in turn create havoc in human life. Apart from raising the sea levels, it will also endanger several species of animals 

2. Climate Change: More global warming will lead to more evaporation which will cause more rains. Animals and plants cannot easily adapt to increased rainfall. 

3. Droughts:

Large scale evaporation will be the major cause of droughts in many places particularly Africa. Although, it is reeling under the huge pressure of water crisis, increased global warming would further make the situation worse and will cause malnutrition.

4. Diseases: As the temperature becomes more warm, it can affect the health of humans and the diseases they are exposed to. With the increase in the rainfall, water borne diseases are likely to spread like malaria.

  

5. Hurricanes Frequency: As the temperature of the oceans rises, hurricanes and other storms are likely to become stronger. With the increase in the global warming, the water in the ocean warms up and it heats up the surrounding air, creating hurricanes.

6. Rise of Sea Levels: The melting of polar ice-caps and less water evaporating into the atmosphere are causing increased sea levels.

7. Agriculture: Global warming can affect agriculture. Although the results are not visible yet, but it may show it’s effects in years to come. As the global temperature will increase, plants will find it harder to survive and will die. Plants are the major source of food for human beings and as a result food shortage may occur. The shortage of the food may lead to war and conflicts in some countries.

8. Heat Waves: If you thought last summer’s headlines of record changing temperature was mind blowing, just wait. Because of greenhouse gases and other causes, unexpected streaks of severe weather are just the tips of the iceberg in global warming.

9. Frequent Wildfires: More frequent wildfires continue to surface in vast amounts each year. Each time a wildfire burns, the less oxygen there is to combat the dangerous amounts of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.

10. Severe Precipitation: Not only is there insurmountable scientific evidence that global warming is increasing, certain types of events, including extreme precipitation is on the rise. Global warming also creates conditions that can lead to more powerful hurricanes and summer storms. Cities and towns on the coast, where sea levels are already rising, face even more challenges as precipitation poses severe flooding.

Can pollution be converted to something useful?

Jewelry- Particles of carbon are extracted from the pollution and then compressed for 30 minutes sealed within a resin cube which then forms a powder like substance which is then used to make rings and cuff links.

Ink- a device that can be fitted onto the exhaust pipe of a car or portable generator and collected the soot that forms from burning diesel fuel. By mixing the fine black powder with solvents, ink is made that then went into bottles and markers.

How does sewage water get converted to distilled water

Sewage first goes through advanced primary treatment in which water is separated from large particles, then enters sedimentation tanks where chemicals are used to make primary sludge settle to the bottom and scum rise to the top. Once the water is separated out, 80% of the solids have been removed, and the wastewater is clean

Pollution can be converted into heat energy which is then fed into a turbine which spins and generates electricity , this is then used for electric cars.

It is estimated that nearly 1.3 billion people do not have access to electricity, around 3 billion people cook and heat their homes using open fires and simple stoves burning biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal. Over 4 million people die prematurely every year as a result of illnesses attributable to household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels. This is a major problem and is fixed by renewable energy, more than $156 billion invested in renewable energy, mainly in China, India, and Brazil.Kenya is the world leader in the number of solar power systems installed per capita (but not the number of watts added). More than 30,000 small solar panels, each producing 12 to 30 watts, are sold in Kenya annually with the largest installed capacity of geothermal power in Africa at 200 MW, with a potential of up to 10 GW.

Why isn’t water powered energy used as a major source of energy in many developed countries?

Hydropower is a type of renewable energy that works by spinning a turbine by a falling stream of water. Although it is renewable and creates no pollutants it only contributes about 2.4% of the U.S.A’s annual energy consumption, the main reason for that is that even though it creates no pollutants it does have a high investment cost and does have environmental impacts like inundation of land and wildlife and destruction of fish habitats.