Keywords: ethanol, hydrogen, oxyhydride
H2 economy could be clean and sustainable only if it is produced from renewable sources and bioethanol obtained through biomass is a promising renewable source of hydrogen. Well tuning the preparation, formulation and conditions applied, different series of nickel based nano-oxyhydride (Ni-Ce-O and Ni-Mg-Al-O based) catalysts were developed for the highly efficient and sustainable H2 formation from ethanol in the presence of oxygen and water at room temperature. Once in situ treated in H2 at adequate temperature, the nickel based mixed oxides become oxyhydrides, with the presence of hydrogen species of hydride nature in the anionic vacancies of the mixed oxides. By taking advantage of the chemical energy released from the reaction between nano-oxyhydride catalysts and O2, continuous complete conversion of ethanol specifically at 50 °C (oven temperature), with simultaneously production of H2, can be obtained. The sustainable process can be explained by a mechanism involving a heterolytic abstraction of hydride species from ethanol regenerating the oxyhydride catalyst.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Materials for Energy, Efficiency and Sustainability: TechConnect Briefs 2015
Published: June 14, 2015
Pages: 124 - 127
Industry sector: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Topic: Catalysis
ISBN: 978-1-4987-4728-8