Hydrogen Production from Formic Acid Using KIT-6 Supported Non-Noble Metal-Based Catalysts

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Nickel (Ni) and Cobalt (Co) are cost-effective non-noble transition metals ideal for dehydrogenation reactions.
• Formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation is a key reaction for hydrogen production.
• KIT-6, a mesoporous silica material, offers a high surface area for catalyst support.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the catalytic activity of KIT-6 supported Ni and Co catalysts for FA dehydrogenation.
• Evaluate the effect of cobalt incorporation into Ni@KIT-6 catalysts.
• Optimize hydrogen production from FA using these novel catalysts.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of KIT-6 supported Ni and Co catalysts.
• Characterization using N2 adsorption-desisorption, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFT).
• Testing catalytic performance in a packed-bed continuous-flow reactor for FA dehydrogenation.

Main Results:

• Metal loading preserved the mesoporous structure of KIT-6.
• Co-based catalysts exhibited higher Lewis acidity than Ni-based catalysts.
• Complete FA conversion was achieved between 200-350°C.
• The 3Ni@KIT-6 catalyst demonstrated the highest H2 selectivity.
• Co-based catalysts showed lower activity attributed to coke formation.

Conclusions:

• KIT-6 supported Ni catalysts are effective for hydrogen production from FA.
• Cobalt incorporation into Ni@KIT-6 catalysts did not enhance catalytic activity and led to lower performance.
• The 3Ni@KIT-6 catalyst is a promising material for efficient and selective hydrogen generation from formic acid.