Hydrogen production reactions from carbon feedstocks: fossil fuels and biomass.

Ethylene glycol (EG) is an important organic compound and chemical intermediate used in a large number of industrial processes (e.g. energy, plastics, automobiles, and chemicals). Indeed, owing to its unique properties and versatile commercial applications, a variety of chemical systems (e.g., catalytic and non-catalytic) have been explored for the synthesis of EG, particularly via reaction processes derived from fossil fuels (e.g., petroleum, natural gas, and coal) and biomass-based resources. This critical review describes a broad spectrum of properties of EG and significant advances in the prevalent synthesis and applications of EG, with emphases on the catalytic reactivity and reaction mechanisms of the main synthetic methodologies and applied strategies. We also provide an overview regarding the challenges and opportunities for future research associated with EG.

Ethylene glycol: properties, synthesis, and applications

A large number of studies can be found in the literature regarding the production of new catalysts for methanol steam reforming. This work summarizes the latest developments on catalysts for this application and is divided in two main groups: copper-based and group 8–10 metal-based catalysts. In each section, the strategies proposed by several authors to enhance the performance of the catalysts are described. An overall comparison between the two groups shows that copper-based catalysts are the most active ones, while the 8–10 group catalysts present better results in terms of thermal stability and long-term stability. Very promising results were reported for both groups, enhancing the value of methanol as a hydrogen carrier for fuel cell applications.

Catalysts for methanol steam reforming—A review

This review summarizes different catalytic options for the production of syngas and hydrogen starting from simple hydrogen-containing molecules. Particular attention is given to new direct catalytic alternatives in natural gas conversion. Improvements in syngas technology are discussed, including partial oxidation, autothermal reforming, combined reforming and carbon dioxide reforming, and the energy efficiencies of direct and indirect methane conversion are compared. Processes, issues and practical difficulties are discussed with academic and applied efforts presented in parallel. It is emphasized that most of the ongoing research related to the direct processes is at the exploratory stage while technology utilizing indirect approach has advanced to semi-works and initial commercialization plants. The new emerging processes based on partial oxidation features are unique for syngas generation. Further enhancement of such processes plus improvements in other second generation technologies and advances in direct processes are anticipated to provide additional, new attractive paths to the chemical conversion of natural gas. Similarly, on board generation of hydrogen-rich gaseous fuels either for spark ignition engines or for coupled-fuel-cells electric engines is discussed within the scope of both partial oxidation and catalytic decomposition of methanol. A concept based in the thermochemical water splitting, which provides a renewable portable fuel from water in the form of H2, is also presented. Above all, as the chemistry involved in most of these catalytic alternatives takes place under extreme conditions, highly stable catalysts and engineering concepts are being developed.

New catalytic routes for syngas and hydrogen production

This paper describes an emerging synthetic route for the production of ethanol (with a yield of ∼83%) via syngas using Cu/SiO2 catalysts. The remarkable stability and efficiency of the catalysts are ascribed to the unique lamellar structure and the cooperative effect between surface Cu0 and Cu+ obtained by an ammonia evaporation hydrothermal method. Characterization results indicated that the Cu0 and Cu+ were formed during the reduction process, originating from well-dispersed CuO and copper phyllosilicate, respectively. A correlation between the catalytic activity and the Cu0 and Cu+ site densities suggested that Cu0 could be the sole active site and primarily responsible for the activity of the catalyst. Moreover, we have shown that the selectivity for ethanol or ethylene glycol can be tuned simply by regulating the reaction temperature.

Synthesis of Ethanol via Syngas on Cu/SiO2 Catalysts with Balanced Cu0–Cu+ Sites

The mechanism of steam reforming of methanol over a copper-silica catalyst

Methanol-reforming reaction over copper-containing catalysts—The effects of anions and copper loading in the preparation of the catalysts by kneading method

Haruo Kobayashi

Papers

The mechanism of steam reforming of methanol over a copper-silica catalyst

Methanol-reforming reaction over copper-containing catalysts—The effects of anions and copper loading in the preparation of the catalysts by kneading method

The mechanism of dehydrogenation of ethanol on magnesium oxide

ESR study of V2O5 catalyst on carriers

Characterization of copper-silica catalysts prepared by ion exchange