RESEARCHERS from Leeds University are currently looking at ways of producing hydrogen from sunflower oil.

Hydrogen is seen as the ultimate fuel of the future, as it can power vehicles, producing only water as a by-product.

The Leeds system uses sunflower oil, air, water vapour and two special catalysts to produce a fuel which could be used to power vehicles.

Researcher Valerie Dupont explained: ‘Most methods of producing hydrogen burn another fuel for energy, which itself creates pollution, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other emissions.

‘Our catalyst uses oxygen from the air to heat up naturally. This heat is used to reform the oil with steam to create hydrogen. The excess carbon dioxide is taken into the second catalyst, then released for storage or use in other chemical processes, ensuring that damaging levels of CO2 are not just put back into the atmosphere.’