New catalyst converts hydrogen from biofuels

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new catalyst capable of converting hydrogen from biofuels such as ethanol with a 90 percent yield using inexpensive ingredients.

The researchers said traditional methods use expensive catalysts with high activity such as Rhodium, which can cost as much as $257 per kilogram. The researchers claim their catalyst costs about $9 per kilogram. The findings were announced today at the American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia.

What’s more, the Ohio State University researchers said conventional catalysts derived from precious metals are not only expensive but often only function at extremely high temperatures, whereas the new powder catalyst produces hydrogen at temperatures of 660° Fahrenheit or roughly 350° Celsius.

The advantage of using a highly active catalyst means the hydrogen conversion process could be run in a relatively small bioreactor using small quantities of the catalyst, researchers said, much like other hydrogen conversion processes (see Gallium and aluminum tigers in your tank?).

The liquid biofuel is first heated and then pumped into a reactor. In that bioreactor, the new catalyst kicks off a series of chemical reactions that lead to hydrogen gas being generated.

In terms of commercial application, researchers said the gray powder made from cerium oxide could eventually be used to generate hydrogen from biofuels in reactors at the site of hydrogen distribution.

In doing so, hydrogen gas could be generated on site. That could help address one of the key infrastructure challenges of transporting hydrogen to fueling stations (see EU study says hydrogen support needs to start now).

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