PI: Philip Ye

University: University of Tennessee

Research Partner: Drs. Zhiyu Hu and Thmas Thundat
Research Partner Laboratory: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Title: Autothermal Conversion of Glycerol to Hydrogen Under Nano-crystals

Abstract:

The objectives of this project are to develop an autothermal conversion process of raw glycerol to high yield of hydrogen under nano-catalysis and to study the reaction kinetics. We will research catalysis mechanism at nano-scale in the autothermal glycerol conversion and present a proof-of-concept of autothermal conversion of glycerol to hydrogen using nano-catalysis. Detailed reaction kinetics measurements and analyses will be conducted through extensive experimental work in order to prove the concept and accumulate data for larger funding opportunities.

Recently, using nanocatalytic particles we achieved autothermal conversion of (glycerol + water) that generates high yield of hydrogen with high selectivity and nearly complete conversion rate external heat input. Our preliminary tests show that this autothermal process had been achieved at a temperature as low as 60% of what is found in normal ethanol reforming to hydrogen process, significantly lowing energy input in hydrogen production. This heat-integrated catalytic process could also be a less energy-intensive alternative to current methods of converting carbohydrates into fuel-grade ethanol.