Academicians of Bitlis Eren University (BEU) Faculty of Health Sciences initiated the "Controlled Hydrogen Production Project from Boron-Derived Compounds for Hydrogen Fuel Cells" in order to support studies to prevent global warming. The project aimed to produce hydrogen and obtain clean energy from organic waste materials through boron hydrides.
In addition to hydrogen production, the study, which plans to bring waste into the economy and convert boron, one of Türkiye's important underground resources, into high value-added products, was presented to the attention of the participants at the session of COP31 on November 9.
BEÜ students also drew attention to the water withdrawal in Lake Van, the drying up of the streams feeding the basin, environmental pollution and illegal hunting of pearl mullet with the "We Raise Our Voice Together for the Future of the Van Lake Basin Project", which they prepared within the scope of the University Student Societies Cooperation and Support Program (UNIDES).
"WE THINK IT WILL BE A PROJECT WITH HIGH ADDED VALUE"
BEÜ Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Prof. Dr. Mehmet Sait İzgi said that the project they presented as a university to draw attention to clean energy attracted attention at COP31. Explaining that they obtained hydrogen from organic waste materials by using boron hydrides within the scope of the project, İzgi said:
"Hydrogen is a clean energy. We aim to contribute to the reduction of global warming with this project. When our project is implemented, our country will have a global say in this field, as clean energy will be produced, it will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and add value to boron resources. We will obtain clean energy. We think that this will be a project with high added value for our country, as it will also contribute to employment."
"IT WILL BOTH REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING AND PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION"
Emphasizing that they obtained hydrogen by using boron hydride from all organic wastes, Izgi emphasized that the by-product of hydrogen is water, therefore carbon dioxide emissions have decreased to a level that can be called zero. Stating that fossil fuels that emit carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide both pollute the environment and cause global warming, İzgi said:
"When this project, which we presented at COP31, is implemented, it will both reduce global warming and prevent environmental pollution. We think that this is a project compatible with the climate agreement conference. We have studies on this. Our studies are accepted in reputable journals. We will also apply this in fuel cells. We are currently in the trial phase and we are getting positive results. We obtain hydrogen by integrating the material that is not used organically into hydrogen fuel systems, and since the by-product of hydrogen is water vapor, this both reduces global warming and completely eliminates environmental pollution."
"WE DRAW ATTENTION TO VAN LAKE BASIN WITH THE ÜNIDES PROJECT"
Stating that they drew attention to the Lake Van Basin with the ÜNİDES project prepared by the students, İzgi said, "We see the pollution of the Lake Van Basin, the illegal hunting of pearl mullet, the streams around the lake are in the process of drying up, and the waters in Lake Van are receding. 22 of our students, currently in Antalya, will carry out works to draw attention to the Lake Van Basin at COP31 for a week. Our climate ambassador Semanur Saraç will also represent our university there. "I think our university has made a significant contribution to COP31 with the projects it offers and its climate ambassador," he said.
