Experimental and Process Modelling Investigation of the Hydrogen Generation from Formic Acid Decomposition Using a Pd/Zn Catalyst

• Main Authors: Sanaa Hafeez, Ilaria Barlocco, Sultan M. Al-Salem, Alberto Villa, Xiaowei Chen, Juan J. Delgado, George Manos, Nikolaos Dimitratos, Achilleas Constantinou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: formic acid decomposition; H₂ production; process simulation modelling; renewable energy; green chemistry
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/18/8462
• ISSN: 2076-3417

The use of hydrogen as a renewable fuel has attracted great attention in recent years. The decomposition of formic acid under mild conditions was investigated using a 2%Pd₆Zn₄ catalyst in a batch reactor. The results showed that the conversion of formic acid increases with reaction temperature and with the formic acid concentration. A process-simulation model was developed to predict the decomposition of formic acid using 2%Pd₆Zn₄ in a batch reactor. The model demonstrated very good validation with the experimental work. Further comparisons between the 2%Pd₆Zn₄ catalyst and a commercial Pd/C catalyst were carried out. It was found that the 2%Pd₆Zn₄ demonstrated significantly higher conversions when compared with the commercial catalyst.