Advanced catalysts and effect of operating parameters in ethanol dry reforming for hydrogen generation. A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - There is actually an intense research in ethanol dry reforming because bioethanol and carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, can be converted into syngas and,...     

Sorption-enhanced chemical looping oxidative steam reforming of methanol for on-board hydrogen supply

Hydrogen is an indispensable energy carrier for the sustainable development of human society. Nevertheless, its storage, transportation, and in situ generation still face significant challenges. Methanol can be used as an intermediate carrier for hydrogen supplies, providing hydrogen energy through instant methanol conversion. In this study, a sorption-enhanced, chemical-looping, oxidative steam methanol-reforming (SECL-OSRM) process is proposed using CuO–MgO for the on-board hydrogen supply, which could be a promising method for safe and efficient hydrogen production. Aspen Plus software was used for feasibility verification and parameter optimization of the SECL-OSRM process. The effects of CuO/CH3OH, MgO/CH3OH, and H2O/CH3OH mole ratios and of temperature on H2 production rate, H utilization efficiency, CH3OH conversion, CO concentration, and system heat balance are discussed thoroughly. The results indicate that the system can be operated in auto-thermal conditions with high-purity hydrogen (99.50 vol％) and ultra-low-concentration CO (<50 ppm) generation, which confirms the pos-sibility of integrating low-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (LT-PEFMCs) with the SECL-OSRM process. The simulation results indicate that the CO can be modulated in a lower concentration by reducing the temperature and by improving the H2O/CH3OH and MgO/CH3OH mole ratios.     

Hydrogen production by catalytic aqueous-phase reforming of waste biomass: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The rising adverse effects of climate change call for a rapid shift to low-carbon energy and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. For that, biorefineries...     

Cobalt-based catalysts for hydrogen production by thermochemical valorization of glycerol: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Rising energy needs and the exhaustion of fossil fuels are calling for renewable fuels such as dihydrogen (H2), commonly named 'hydrogen.' Biomass...     

Facile synthesis of hydrochar-supported catalysts from glucose and its catalytic activity towards the production of functional amines

Since the utilization of abundant biomass to develop advanced materials has become an utmost priority in recent years, we developed two sustainable routes(i.e., the impregnation method and the one-pot synthesis) to prepare the hydrochar-supported catalysts and tested its catalytic performance on the reductive amination. Several techniques, such as TEM, XRD and XPS, were adopted to characterize the structural and catalytic features of samples. Results indicated that the impregnation method favors...     

Influence of iron, nickel and cobalt on biogas production during the anaerobic fermentation of fresh residual biomass

We have investigated the dependence of the rate of the production of biogas upon the concentration of nickel, cobalt and iron at sub-toxic concentration and monitored its composition as amount of hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. The distribution of the added metals between the liquid and solid phase has also been monitored.

The results of our investigations show that the addition of any of the listed metals to the sludge may cause the production of a higher amount of biogas and influence the methane or carbon dioxide percentage. Conversely, the effect on the hydrogen production depends upon the metal added, the age of the active sludge used, and its adaptation to the susbtrate. As a general feature, during the acidogenesis phase, nickel reduces, while iron increases, the percentage of dihydrogen in the biogas, while cobalt has no influence.     

Influence of iron,nickel and cobalt on biogas production during the anaerobic fermentation of fresh residual biomass

We have investigated the dependence of the rate of the production of biogas upon the concentration of nickel, cobalt and iron at sub-toxic concentration and monitored its composition as amount of hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. The distribution of the added metals between the liquid and solid phase has also been monitored.

The results of our investigations show that the addition of any of the listed metals to the sludge may cause the production of a higher amount of biogas and influence the methane or carbon dioxide percentage. Conversely, the effect on the hydrogen production depends upon the metal added, the age of the active sludge used, and its adaptation to the susbtrate. As a general feature, during the acidogenesis phase, nickel reduces, while iron increases, the percentage of dihydrogen in the biogas, while cobalt has no influence.     

Preparation of rare-earth metal complex oxide catalysts for catalytic wet air oxidation

Catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) is one of the most promising technologies for pollution abatement. Developing catalysts with high activity and stability is crucial for the application of the CWAO process. The Mn/Ce complex oxide catalysts for CWAO of high concentration phenol-containing wastewater were prepared by coprecipitation. The catalyst preparation conditions were optimized by using an orthogonal layout method and single-factor experimental analysis. The Mn/Ce serial catalysts were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis and the metal cation leaching was measured by inductively coupled plasma torch-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results show that the catalysts have high catalytic activities even at a low temperature (80°C) and low oxygen partial pressure (0.5 MPa) in a batch reactor. The metallic ion leaching is comparatively low (Mn<6.577 mg/L and Ce<0.6910 mg/L, respectively) in the CWAO process. The phenol, COD_Cr, and TOC removal efficiencies in the solution exceed 98.5% using the optimal catalyst (named CSP). The new catalyst would have a promising application in CWAO treatment of high concentration organic wastewater.     

Direct production of hydrogen peroxide over bimetallic CoPd catalysts:Investigation of the effect of Co addition and calcination temperature

A series of CoPd/KIT-6 bimetallic catalysts with various Co:Pd molar ratios at different calcination temperatures were prepared and used for the direct synthesis of H₂O₂ from H₂ and O₂. These catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption–desorption, low and wide-angle X-ray diffraction(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM),elemental mapping and energy-dispersive X-ray...     

Metal organic framework supported niobium pentoxide nanoparticles with exceptional catalytic effect on hydrogen storage behavior of MgH2

Nb₂O₅ nanoparticles with an average particle size of 10 nm supported on a rhombic dodecahedral metal organic framework(MOF) were successfully synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal reaction and subsequent calcination process.Experimental results demonstrated that the prepared catalyst drastically improved the hydrogen storage behavior of MgH₂.7 wt% Nb₂O₅@MOF doped MgH₂ started to desorb hydrogen at 181.9℃ and 6.2 wt% hydroge...     

Photocatalytic water splitting of ternary graphene-like photocatalyst for the photocatalytic hydrogen production

•The MoS₂/SiC/GO composite has a strong photocatalytic activity than SiC. •The optimal catalyst yielded the highest quantum of 21.69%. •GO acts as a bridge for electron passage in photocatalytic reaction. In recent times, therehas been an increasing demand for energy which has resulted in an increased consumption of fossil fuels thereby posing a number of challenges to the environment. In the course finding possible solutions to this environmental canker, solar photocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogengas has been identified as one of the most promising methods for generating renewable energy. To retard the recombination of photogenerated carriers and improve the efficiencyof photocatalysis, the present paper reports a facile method called the hydrothermal method, which was used to prepare ternary graphene-like photocatalyst. A “Design Expert” was used to investigate the influence of the loading weight of Mo and GO as well as the temperature of hydrothermal reaction and their interactions on the evolution of hydrogen (H₂) in 4 h. The experimental results showed that the ternary graphene-like photocatalyst has a strong photocatalytic hydrogen production activity compared to that of pure SiC. In particular, the catalyst added 2.5 wt% of GO weight yielded the highest quantum of 21.69 % at 400–700 nm of wavelength. The optimal evolution H₂ in 4 h conditions wasobtained as follows: The loading weight of Mo was 8.19 wt%, the loading weight of GO was 2.02 wt%, the temperature of the hydrothermal reaction was 200.93°C. Under the optimum conditions, the evolution of H₂ in 4 h could reach 4.2030 mL.     

蜂窝状Mnx/PG-CC催化剂中低温CH_4-SCR脱硝性能

采用悬浮浆液法将凹凸棒石(PG)涂覆于堇菁石(CC)表面,制备PG-CC载体.将PG-CC载体以过饱和浸渍法经Mn(NO_3)_2前驱体溶液处理后依次干燥、煅烧制得Mnx/PG-CC整体式催化剂,应用于柴油车尾气净化处理.考察了制备参数(锰负载量、煅烧温度)和工况条件(氧气含量,CH_4/NO)对Mnx/PG-CC催化剂在CH_4-SCR反应中脱硝活性的影响.采用BET、FE-SEM、XRD、XPS和NO吸脱附等表征手段对催化剂的结构和形貌进行表征.结果表明,在锰负载量为11%、煅烧温度为300℃下所制得的催化剂具有较佳的CH_4-SCR脱硝活性,O_2含量为5%、CH_4/NO为1,反应温度为300℃时反应条件最优.锰氧化物活性组分在催化剂表面的高度分散和均匀分布有利于催化剂的CH_4-SCR脱硝活性提高,且有助于NO吸附在载体表面并形成硝酸盐中间体参与催化反应.     

氧化锰八面体分子筛(OMS-2)负载Pd催化剂的制备及其CO催化氧化性能

通过前掺杂法(PI)和浸渍法(IM)制备了氧化锰八面体分子筛(Octahedral Molecular Sieves,OMS-2)负载Pd(Pd/OMS-2)催化剂.采用X射线衍射(XRD)、H2-程序升温还原(H2-TPR)和N2-吸附/脱附等技术对样品进行了表征,研究了不同制备方法和不同Pd负载量对Pd/OMS-2催化剂催化氧化CO性能的影响,通过与载体OMS-2的比较研究了Pd/OMS-2催化剂的稳定性.结果表明,前掺杂法制备的Pd/OMS-2-PI催化剂活性明显优于浸渍法制备的Pd/OMS-2-IM催化剂,其T100分别为75℃和175℃.这与Pd/OMS-2-PI催化剂中OMS-2载体与Pd之间存在强相互作用有关.Pd负载量明显影响Pd/OMS-2-PI催化剂的催化活性,3Pd/OMS-2-PI催化剂(Pd=3.0wt%)催化活性最高,这是由于Pd掺杂进入OMS-2晶格结构,能活化晶格氧,而随Pd含量进一步增加,部分Pd分布在OMS-2表面.稳定性结果表明,Pd/OMS-2-PI稳定性明显优于OMS-2载体本身,这可能与Pd掺杂进入催化剂晶格,能较好稳定OMS-2结构密切相关.     

Evaluation of the technoeconomic feasibility of electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production for decentralized water treatment

• Gas diffusion electrode (GDE) is a suitable setup for practical water treatment. • Electrochemical H₂O₂ production is an economically competitive technology. • High current efficiency of H₂O₂ production was obtained with GDE at 5–400 mA/cm². • GDE maintained high stability for H₂O₂ production for ~1000 h. • Electro-generation of H₂O₂ enhances ibuprofen removal in an E-peroxone process. This study evaluated the feasibility of electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production with gas diffusion electrode (GDE) for decentralized water treatment. Carbon black-polytetrafluoroethylene GDEs were prepared and tested in a continuous flow electrochemical cell for H₂O₂ production from oxygen reduction. Results showed that because of the effective oxygen transfer in GDEs, the electrode maintained high apparent current efficiencies (ACEs,>80%) for H₂O₂ production over a wide current density range of 5–400 mA/cm², and H₂O₂ production rates as high as ~202 mg/h/cm² could be obtained. Long-term stability test showed that the GDE maintained high ACEs (>85%) and low energy consumption (<10 kWh/kg H₂O₂) for H₂O₂ production for 42 d (~1000 h). However, the ACEs then decreased to ~70% in the following 4 days because water flooding of GDE pores considerably impeded oxygen transport at the late stage of the trial. Based on an electrode lifetime of 46 days, the overall cost for H₂O₂ production was estimated to be ~0.88 $/kg H₂O₂, including an electricity cost of 0.61 $/kg and an electrode capital cost of 0.27 $/kg. With a 9 cm² GDE and 40 mA/cm² current density, ~2–4 mg/L of H₂O₂ could be produced on site for the electro-peroxone treatment of a 1.2 m³/d groundwater flow, which considerably enhanced ibuprofen abatement compared with ozonation alone (~43%–59% vs. 7%). These findings suggest that electrochemical H₂O₂ production with GDEs holds great promise for the development of compact treatment technologies for decentralized water treatment at a household and community level.     

Influence of shells on mating behavior in the hermit crab Calcinus tibicen

Summary Populations of the intertidal hermit crab Calcinus tibicen were observed in the laboratory and reproductive behaviors recorded. Of the 218 interactions, 68 resulted in copulation(s). Male and female sizes were positively correlated. Male size affected copulation success in a non-linear fashion. In particular, the largest males did not obtain any copulations. This was largely a consequence of the shell species occupied by large individuals; males in Nerita sp and Cittarium pica shells were unsuccessful in courtship. The ability to execute precopulatory rotation of the female was negatively affected by certain shell types. Repeated pairings of individuals suggested some level of individual recognition within the reproductively active population.