A new catalytic thermal process converts ethanol and water into hydrogen and acetic acid at low temperatures, with near-zero carbon dioxide emissions.
Hydrogen from bioethanol without high temperatures thanks to a new catalyst
What is the most common method for producing hydrogen today? Currently, it is methane reforming. This process involves reacting natural gas with steam under pressures of 3–25 bar in the presence of a catalyst, generating hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. However, new research demonstrates that this same approach could enable a much cleaner hydrogen production pathway.
A team of scientists from Peking University (China), Kindai University (Japan), and Cardiff University (United Kingdom) has successfully produced hydrogen from agricultural bioethanol without emitting CO2. They achieved this while using temperatures that are half of those required for conventional steam reforming.
The process converts ethanol (C2H6O) and water (H2O) into hydrogen at just 270°C, with acetic acid (CH3COOH) as a valuable byproduct. Acetic acid is widely used in food preservation and household cleaning products.
This breakthrough could mark a significant shift in zero-carbon hydrogen production, establishing a new circular economy model for agricultural waste.
Enhanced efficiency
What’s the secret? It all lies in the catalyst. The researchers developed a compound containing a high density of atomic species of platinum and iridium, supported on a reactive alpha-molybdenum carbide substrate. This composition prevents the breaking of ethanol’s carbon-carbon bonds, thereby avoiding the formation of carbon dioxide.
The approach offers multiple advantages. First, it is highly efficient. The reaction achieves a hydrogen production rate of 331.3 millimoles per gram of catalyst per hour and an acetic acid selectivity of 84.5% at 270°C. As the researchers explain in their study published in Science, the process is “more energy-efficient than standard reforming.”
Second, it is compatible with bioethanol derived from agricultural waste, adding new value to residues from farms and forests.
According to the team, a techno-economic analysis of catalytic thermal ethanol reforming suggests that industrial-scale implementation is feasible, offering “the opportunity to produce hydrogen and acetic acid with a substantially reduced carbon footprint.”
Lead author Professor Ding Ma of Peking University stated, “This innovative catalytic technology holds great promise for advancing the green hydrogen economy and supporting global carbon neutrality goals.”
