New Process Boost For Hydrogen Powered Vehicles
September 4th, 2008
US scientists have found a way to convert ethanol and other bio-fuels into hydrogen very efficiently, by using a new catalyst which makes hydrogen from ethanol with 90% yield, at a workable temperature, and using inexpensive ingredients. Professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Ohio State University, Umit Ozkan, says the new catalyst is much less expensive than others being developed around the world, because it does not contain precious metals, such as platinum or rhodium. “Rhodium is used most often for this kind of catalyst, and it costs around $US9,000 an ounce. Our catalyst costs around $US9 a kilogramme.”
No Precious Metals. The catalyst could help make the use of hydrogen-powered vehicles more practical in the future. Ozkan says a goal from the outset was to come up with a precious-metal-free catalyst, based on metals which are readily available and inexpensive, but still highly active and stable. The new dark grey powder used to make the catalyst is made from tiny granules of cerium oxide – a common ingredient in ceramics – and calcium, covered with even smaller particles of cobalt.
Practical Problems. Although the initial signs are positive, there are many practical issues which need to be resolved before hydrogen can be used as a fuel such as how to make it, how to transport it and how to create the infrastructure for people to fill vehicles with it. However, she says the University’s research lends itself to what’s called a “distributed production” strategy. Instead of making hydrogen from bio-fuel at a centralised facility and transporting it to filling stations, catalysts inside reactors actually located at the petrol stations could be used. This would mean the hydrogen would not have to be stored or transported – instead the bio-fuel, could be stored and hydrogen manufactured on the spot where it is sold.
FAST FACT: 350ºC – Temperature at which catalyst produces hydrogen
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