Transesterification, esterification, and esterification-transesterification (both one-step and two-step) for producing biofuels The process may be enhanced by one or more of the following: 1) applying microwave or RF energy; 2) passing reactants over a heterogeneous catalyst at sufficiently high velocity to achieve high shear conditions; 3) emulsifying reactants with a homogeneous catalyst; or 4) maintaining the reaction at a pressure at or above autogeneous pressure Enhanced processes using one or more of these steps can result in higher process rates, higher conversion levels, or both

Methods for producing biodiesel

A method is provided for the production of biofuels. The method includes contacting at least one of a plant oil, an animal oil and a mixture thereof with a catalyst including an acid or solid acid, thereby producing a catalyst-oil mixture. RF or microwave energy is applied to at least one of the catalyst, the plant oil, the animal oil, the mixture, and the catalyst-oil mixture to produce the biofuel. The process can be adjusted to produce gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, or diesel range middle distillate products.

Production of biofuels

A method for applying a coating of catalytic material onto a metallic substrate involves thermal spray deposition of refractory oxide particles directly onto the substrate, preferably to attain an undercoat having a surface roughness of Ra 3 or greater. The catalytic material may then be applied to the undercoated substrate in any convenient manner. In a particular embodiment, the metallic substrate is treated by grit blasting prior to the application of an undercoat principally containing alumina. The coated substrate can be used in the assembly of a catalyst member for the treatment of exhaust gases.

Thermal spray method for adhering a catalytic material to a metallic substrate

An onboard hydrogen storage unit with heat transfer system for a hydrogen powered vehicle. The system includes a hydrogen storage vessel (1) containing a hydrogen storage alloy configured to receive a stream of hydrogen through a hydrogen inlet (2) and to provide hydrogen for use in powering a vehicle. During refueling of the vehicle, a cooling/heating loop (4, 8) is used to remove the heat of hydride formation from the hydrogen storage alloy whereas during operation of the vehicle the heating/cooling loop (4, 8) is used to supply heat to the hydrogen storage alloy to aid in hydrogen desorption.

Onboard hydrogen storage unit with heat transfer system for use in a hydrogen powered vehicle

Novel materials having the ability to reversibly store hydrogen are amorphous metal alloys of the formula A.sub.a M.sub.b M'.sub.c wherein A is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Hg, Pd and Pt; M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pb, Ru, Cu, Cr, Mo, Si, W, Ni, Al, Sn, Co, Fe, Zn, Cd, Ga and Mn; and M' is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Mg, Ti, Y, Zr, Hf, Nb, V, Ta and the rare earths; and wherein a ranges from greater than zero to about 0.80; b ranges from zero to about 0.70; and c ranges from about 0.08 to about 0.95; characterized in that (1) a substantial portion of A is disposed on the surface of said material and/or (2) that said material functions as an active surface layer for adsorbing/desorbing hydrogen in conjunction with a bulk storage material comprising a reversible hydrogen storage material.

Amorphous metal alloy compositions for reversible hydrogen storage

For the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen, a palladium alloy having a low induction period up to the catalytic reaction is used. The palladium alloy contains at least 80 % by weight of Pd, at most up to 19.9 % by weight of a further metal from Group 8 of the Periodic Table, especially Ni, and at most 10 % by weight of Cu.

Palladium alloy as a catalyst for hydrogen oxidation in an atmosphere containing hydrogen and oxygen

A catalytically acting system of metal layers for the removal or elimination of hydrogen from a gas mixture, which also contains hydrogen and oxygen. The system of metal layers possesses a surface layer which faces the gas mixture, and which is constituted of a PdNiCu alloy and which acts as a catalyst during the oxidation of the hydrogen. The surface layer is connected with or bonded to a carrier consisting of a heat-conductive material.

Catalyst consisting of a metal layer system for the removal of hydrogen from a gas mixture

OF THE DISCLOSURE The activation of a mass of metal granules capable of storing hydrogen with the formation of hydride in a pressure vessel, instead of having to be activated before use by repeated heating in a hydrogen atmosphere followed by cooling and evacuation before the next heating, is activated in the pressure vessel used for storage by first heating a small portion of the granulate to the necessary activation temperature and then allowing the heat developed by the activation of that portion to produce the activation of the remainder of the granulate. It is found that it thus is possible to provide complete activation with only one heating step. The small portion that is first activated may be a part of the granulate that is of a different compos-ition that is easier to activate, for example, LaNi5, which can be activated at room temperature, or iron-titanium alloys that are capable of activation under 100°C. Alternatively, the entire mass of granulate may be selected for its hydrogen-storage capability rather than its ease of activation and a small part thereof can be activated first by means of a high temperature (up to 800°C) generated in a very small source of heat, as by a platinum wire electric heater, turned on for only 10 or 20 minutes, after which the activation produced provides enough heat for activating the remainder of the granular material.

Method and pressure container for producing hydrogen-storage metal granulates

An arrangement for the elimination or removal of hydrogen from a hydrogenntaining gas mixture through the intermediary of foils which are fastened within a closable container, wherein the material of the foils produces an elimination of hydrogen, whereby the foils are so arranged at such spacings with respect to each other as to form interspaces between the foils which can be streamed through by the gas mixture. At least one supporting member having the foils adhering thereto is arranged within the container in such a manner that the foils will extend into the surroundings upon opening of the container. Especially suitable for this purpose are spirally-wound supporting members which will extend out of the container under the effect of gravity or under the action of a mechanical spring force, and in this manner provide a direct contact between the effective foil material and the explosively dangerous gas mixture.

Arrangement for the removal of hydrogen

Zur Beseitigung von Wasserstoff aus einem wasserstoffenthaltenden Gasgemisch sind innerha1b eines verschliesbaren Behalters (16) (Figur 2) Folien (12) befestigt, deren Material die Wasserstoffbeseitigung bewirkt. For the removal of hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing gas mixture (Figure 2) are mounted slides (12), the material causes the hydrogen removal innerha1b a closable container (16). Der Wasserstoff kann aus dem Gasgemisch durch Absorption im Material entfernt werden oder wird in Anwesenheit von Sauerstoff im Gasgemisch oxidiert, wobei das Material die 0xidation katalytisch beeinflust. The hydrogen can be removed from the gas mixture by absorption in the material, or is oxidized in the presence of oxygen in the gas mixture, wherein the material which affects 0xidation catalytically. Die Folien (12) sind im Behalter mit Abstand zueinander angeordnet. The films (12) are arranged in the container at a distance from each other. Um die Folien bei Bedarf zum Einsatz zu bringen, ist im Behalter (16) ein mit Folien behafteter Tragerkorper (12) derart angeordnet, das sich die Folien nach Offnen des Behalters (16) in die Umgebung erstrecken. In order to bring the film when required for use, in the container (16) is a afflicted with slides supporting body (12) arranged such that the films after opening of the container (16) extending into the environment.

Karl-Heinz Klatt

Papers

Palladium alloy as a catalyst for hydrogen oxidation in an atmosphere containing hydrogen and oxygen

Catalyst consisting of a metal layer system for the removal of hydrogen from a gas mixture

Method and pressure container for producing hydrogen-storage metal granulates

Arrangement for the removal of hydrogen

Device for eliminating hydrogen