Project Details
Applicability of Pt supported Carbon Catalysts for Hydrogen Generation
Applicant
Dr. Kerstin Scholz
Subject Area
Technical Chemistry
Term
from 2008 to 2011
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 60331882
Processes for hydrogen production involve thermally assisted chemical reactions that release hydrogen from either hydrocarbons or water. The most wide spread thermo-chemical process for hydrogen production is the steam methane reforming (SMR) process. While this technology is the most economic today, it generates considerably large carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). Therefore, SMR is not favoured for a long term hydrogen economy. Alternative thermo-chemical processes are those which do not have hydrocarbon feedstock but which split water into hydrogen and oxygen through a series of thermally driven chemical reactions. However, as pyrolysis of water occur at temperatures greater than 4000 °C procedures generating hydrogen at lower temperatures are required. In the long term, the low cost of water and avoiding CO2 emissions totally are the main benefits of the water splitting approach. Recent research identifies two thermo-chemical water splitting cycles, which have the highest commercialization potential and practical applicability to nuclear heat sources. These are the sulphur-iodine (SI) and calcium-bromine-iron (UT3) cycles. The SI cycle is being investigated by General Atomics and Japanese Atomic Energy Research Institute. The UT3 cycle, so called in recognition of its origin at the University of Tokyo, is being investigated by JAERI.
DFG Programme
Research Fellowships
International Connection
India
Host
Dr. Tulsi Mukherjee