Outreach Programs

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Intern: Andrew Robertson, Chemistry Lake Superior State University Mentor: Jerry Macala Faculty Supervisor: Peter Ford Department: Chemistry and Biochemistry

HOMOGENOUS CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF BIOMASS INTO HYDROGEN

Currently, hydrogen gas is predominantly created from the break down of fossil fuels and other long chain hydrocarbons. The availability of fossil fuels is diminishing thus a new technique for production of H₂ is needed. One such technique is the water gas shift reaction. By combining H₂O and CO, under the correct conditions, H₂ and CO₂ gases can be produced. When reacted in the presence of a catalyst, the activation energy is lowered pushing the reaction towards the products. Bio-molecules such as glucose can be effectively broken down into CO in the presence of base. This CO is then utilized in the Water Gas Shift Reaction in the presence of water and a catalytic species thus producing H₂. The research mainly investigates the efficiency of several Ruthenium and Rhodium carbonyls and chlorides as the catalytic species. The main purpose of this investigation is to determine varying conditions in which a high production yield of H₂ is achieved. As well, research into determining an accurate catalytic mechanism is being conducted.

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