1.0. Introduction 4044 2.0. Biomass Chemistry and Growth Rates 4047 2.1. Lignocellulose and Starch-Based Plants 4047 2.2. Triglyceride-Producing Plants 4049 2.3. Algae 4050 2.4. Terpenes and Rubber-Producing Plants 4052 3.0. Biomass Gasification 4052 3.1. Gasification Chemistry 4052 3.2. Gasification Reactors 4054 3.3. Supercritical Gasification 4054 3.4. Solar Gasification 4055 3.5. Gas Conditioning 4055 4.0. Syn-Gas Utilization 4056 4.1. Hydrogen Production by Water−Gas Shift Reaction 4056

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Synthesis of transportation fuels from biomass: chemistry, catalysts, and engineering.

The applications of copper (Cu) and Cu-based nanoparticles, which are based on the earth-abundant and inexpensive copper metal, have generated a great deal of interest in recent years, especially in the field of catalysis. The possible modification of the chemical and physical properties of these nanoparticles using different synthetic strategies and conditions and/or via postsynthetic chemical treatments has been largely responsible for the rapid growth of interest in these nanomaterials and their applications in catalysis. In addition, the design and development of novel support and/or multimetallic systems (e.g., alloys, etc.) has also made significant contributions to the field. In this comprehensive review, we report different synthetic approaches to Cu and Cu-based nanoparticles (metallic copper, copper oxides, and hybrid copper nanostructures) and copper nanoparticles immobilized into or supported on various support materials (SiO2, magnetic support materials, etc.), along with their applications i...

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00482

Cu and Cu-Based Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications in Catalysis.

This article provides an up-to-date perspective on the use of anion-exchange membranes in fuel cells, electrolysers, redox flow batteries, reverse electrodialysis cells, and bioelectrochemical systems (e.g. microbial fuel cells). The aim is to highlight key concepts, misconceptions, the current state-of-the-art, technological and scientific limitations, and the future challenges (research priorities) related to the use of anion-exchange membranes in these energy technologies. All the references that the authors deemed relevant, and were available on the web by the manuscript submission date (30th April 2014), are included.

/pdf/anion-exchange-membranes-in-electrochemical-energy-systems-46uquenb56.pdf

Anion-exchange membranes in electrochemical energy systems

Anion exchange membranes for alkaline fuel cells: A review

Despite the dedicated search for novel catalysts for fuel cell applications, the intrinsic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of materials has not improved significantly over the past decade. Here, we review the role of theory in understanding the ORR mechanism and highlight the descriptor-based approaches that have been used to identify catalysts with increased activity. Specifically, by showing that the performance of the commonly studied materials (e.g., metals, alloys, carbons, etc.) is limited by unfavorable scaling relationships (for binding energies of reaction intermediates), we present a number of alternative strategies that may lead to the design and discovery of more promising materials for ORR.

Understanding Catalytic Activity Trends in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

The thermal and catalytic decomposition of urea over a fixed-bed flow reactor system has been examined for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx from mobile sources. The conversion of urea into NH3 and HNCO, the two major products from the thermal decomposition of urea, increased with the reaction temperature and the reactor space time. Urea was completely decomposed into NH3 and HNCO at 350 °C when the residence time was longer than 0.1 s. As the reaction temperature increased to 400 °C or higher, complete decomposition of urea was possible at a much shorter residence time of the feed gas stream. The simultaneous thermal and catalytic decomposition of urea was also examined in a dual-reactor system in which the first reactor was for thermal decomposition and the second was for catalytic decomposition, specifically over copper exchanged ZSM5 catalyst. The role of the catalyst in the decomposition of urea into NH3 and HNCO was negligible; urea decomposition occurs mainly by the thermal reaction. H...

Decomposition of Urea into NH3 for the SCR Process

Performance of solid alkaline fuel cells employing anion-exchange membranes

Among the catalysts screened, Cu-ion exchanged ZSM5 zeolite exhibited the highest NO removal activity, particularly at low reaction temperatures below 200 °C, maintaining a wide operating temperature window. The hydrothermal stability of the CuZSM5 catalyst can be improved by the optimization of metal content of the catalyst. Through the variation of reactor operating conditions, NO conversion of better than 90% could be achieved with a minimum NH3 slip. The decomposition of urea was also examined and a kinetic model for both thermal and catalytic decomposition of urea was developed. Urea-SCR over the CuZSM5 catalyst exhibited that the NO removal activity is competitive to that by NH3-SCR, indicating urea can be effectively utilized in SCR reactor system as the reducing agent.

Control of NOx emissions from diesel engine by selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with urea

The effect of tungsten and barium oxides on the activity and durability of V2O5/TiO2 catalyst for NO reduction by NH3 was examined. Tungsten enhanced the NO removal activity of V2O5 catalyst supported on sulfur-free TiO2, while no effect of tungsten was observed for the V2O5 catalyst supported on sulfated TiO2. The tungsten oxide promotes the formation of polymeric vanadate that is a strong active reaction site for NO reduction by NH3. When both tungsten and sulfur simultaneously exist on the surface of V2O5/TiO2, the sulfur species seems to play a more important role for NO removal activity than tungsten. The tungsten oxide on the V2O5/TiO2 catalyst also enhances the activity for SO2 oxidation by promoting the adsorption of SO2, regardless of the presence of sulfur species on the catalyst surface. The NO removal activity of V2O5 catalyst supported on sulfur-free TiO2 has been significantly reduced by barium oxide, mainly due to the formation of inactive VOBa compound through the strong interaction of vanadia with barium oxide. No change of NO removal activity over V2O5-BaO/sulfated TiO2, however, was examined by the addition of barium oxide, since the structure of vanadium oxide was not altered on the surface of the sulfated TiO2. The SO2 oxidation reaction over V2O5-BaO/TiO2 catalysts was significantly suppressed by the addition of barium oxide to the catalyst. The barium oxide seems to reduce the redox ability of vanadium oxide on the catalyst surface as well as the adsorption capacity of SO2. Based on the temperature programmed reduction (TPR), Raman and XPS observations, the surface structure of vanadium and its interaction with tungsten and barium oxides has been illustrated when sulfur exists on the surface of TiO2.

Effect of promoters including WO3 and BaO on the activity and durability of V2O5/sulfated TiO2 catalyst for NO reduction by NH3

Efficient and cost-effective bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are of vital importance in energy conversion and storage devices. Despite the recent progress in bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts, their unbalanced and insufficient OER and ORR activities has continued to pose challenges for the practical application of such energy devices. The design of highly integrated, high-performance, bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts composed of highly graphitic nanoshells embedded in mesoporous carbon (GNS/MC) is reported. The GNS/MC exhibits very high oxygen electrode activity, which is one of the best performances among nonprecious metal bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts, and substantially outperforms Ir- and Pt-based catalysts. Moreover, the GNS/MC shows excellent durability for both OER and ORR. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and square wave voltammetry reveal the roles of residual Ni and Fe entities in enhancing OER and ORR activities. Raman spectra indicate highly graphitic, defect-rich nature of the GNS/MC, which can contribute to the enhanced OER activity and to high stability for the OER and ORR. In aqueous Na–air battery tests, the GNS/MC air cathode-based cell exhibits superior performance to Ir/C- and Pt/C-based batteries. Significantly, the GNS/MC-based cell demonstrates the first example of rechargeable aqueous Na–air battery.

Graphitic Nanoshell/Mesoporous Carbon Nanohybrids as Highly Efficient and Stable Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Aqueous Na–Air Batteries

Sung-Dae Yim

Papers

Decomposition of Urea into NH3 for the SCR Process

Performance of solid alkaline fuel cells employing anion-exchange membranes

Control of NOx emissions from diesel engine by selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with urea

Effect of promoters including WO3 and BaO on the activity and durability of V2O5/sulfated TiO2 catalyst for NO reduction by NH3

Graphitic Nanoshell/Mesoporous Carbon Nanohybrids as Highly Efficient and Stable Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Aqueous Na–Air Batteries