Cerium Oxide again and Cobalt:
New Low-Cost Non-noble Metal Catalyst for Hydrogen Production from Biofuels
Researchers at Ohio State University (OSU) have developed a n
ew cobalt-based catalyst for the steam reforming of bio-derived liquids
into hydrogen with 90% yield, at 350°C (660°F), and without the use of precious metals such as platinum or rhodium.
Umit Ozkan, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at OSU, and her colleagues presented the research today at the American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia. Ozkan said that their catalyst costs around $9/kg ($0.25/ounce), while rhodium costs around $9,000/ounce ($317,466/kg).
The catalyst is made from cerium oxide and calcium, covered with small particles of cobalt.
One of the biggest challenges the researchers faced was how to prevent coking. The combination of cerium oxide and calcium solved that problem, because it promoted the movement of oxygen ions inside the catalyst. When exposed to enough oxygen, the carbon, like the biofuel, is converted into a gas and gets oxidized.
Though this work was based on converting ethanol, Ozkan’s team is now studying how to use the same catalyst with other liquid biofuels. Her coauthors on this presentation included Ohio State doctoral students Hua Song and Lingzhi Zhang.
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