TAEBC member One Scientific has made a breakthrough in its technology that dates back to its inception in the 1970s.

When the earliest prototype of the company’s technology was first tested, it shot a jet of flame across a 30-foot distance and singed the eyebrows of a bystander. This incident caused the founder Michael Redwine to shelve his invention until scientific advancements could make the technology safe.

The problem stemmed not from a flaw in the technology but from the volatile nature of pure hydrogen and pure oxygen when exposed to one another. One Scientific’s unique method of splitting water produces a gaseous stream made up of 2:1 hydrogen and oxygen. Michael tested various filtration medias to separate the two gas streams – including pure gold leaf – but was unable to successful devise a method that was both efficient and cost-effective.

Fast forward to March 3, 2017. Thanks to years of experience and advancements in additive manufacturing, One Scientific has finally produced a solution with the company’s 3D printer. With this key component, the company has achieved over 99% separation of both gases.

One Scientific’s 3D printed part has a short life due to the filament material limitations. The company is now looking to outside vendors who can manufacture this component from sturdy materials. This ultimately means another round of experiments to finalize the breakthrough and another step closer to commercialization.

One Scientific can now safely produce hydrogen gas from water almost anywhere and on-demand.

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