Decomposition of Additive-Free Formic Acid Using a Pd/C Catalyst in Flow: Experimental and CFD Modelling Studies

Abstract

The use of hydrogen as a renewable fuel has gained increasing attention in recent years due to its abundance and efficiency. The decomposition of formic acid for hydrogen production under mild conditions of 30 °C has been investigated using a 5 wt.% Pd/C catalyst and a fixed bed microreactor. Furthermore, a comprehensive heterogeneous computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model has been developed to validate the experimental data. The results showed a very good agreement between the CFD studies and experimental work. Catalyst reusability studies have shown that after 10 reactivation processes, the activity of the catalyst can be restored to offer the same level of activity as the fresh sample of the catalyst. The CFD model was able to simulate the catalyst deactivation based on the production of the poisoning species CO, and a sound validation was obtained with the experimental data. Further studies demonstrated that the conversion of formic acid enhances with increasing temperature and decreasing liquid flow rate. Moreover, the CFD model established that the reaction system was devoid of any internal and external mass transfer limitations. The model developed can be used to successfully predict the decomposition of formic acid in microreactors for potential fuel cell applications.

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

“…The 2%Pd 6 Zn 4 @HHT catalyst was prepared using the galvanic replacement procedure employed by Liao et al [43], modified for the Pd-Zn system. This typical method consists of a two-step synthesis.…”

“…Furthermore, theoretical studies are a valuable tool to assess the validity of the experimental findings [41,42]. Hafeez and Sanchez et al [43] investigated the liquid-phase decomposition of formic acid using a Pd/C catalyst in a packed bed microreactor. A comprehensive heterogeneous computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was developed to validate the experimental data.…”

Theoretical Investigation of the Deactivation of Ni Supported Catalysts for the Catalytic Deoxygenation of Palm Oil for Green Diesel Production

“…Detailed information regarding the catalytic performance of Ni/ZrO 2 can be sought in Papageridis et al [3]. Theoretical modelling using CFD has proven to be a valuable tool for investigating many reactions generating renewable fuels [24][25][26][27][28][29]. A detailed heterogeneous CFD model has been developed to validate experimental data, and a good agreement was observed, proving the validity and robustness of the CFD model.…”

Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide (CO2) to fuels in microreactors: a review of set-ups and value-added chemicals production

“…18 Great efforts have recently been accomplished to prepare microreactors with the aim of producing chemical fuels through CO 2 hydrogenation. 19 Microreactors such as continuous flow microreactors, 20,21 micro packed-bed reactors, 22,23 membrane, 24,25 and microplasma reactors can be used to enhance various unit operations and reactions in micro space. Moreover, microreactors exhibit pivotal advancements in chemical engineering, leading to excellent output yield of chemical fuels.…”