Natural and synthetic iron oxides for hydrogen storage and purification

Abstract

In this paper, the hydrogen storage capacity of some synthetic and natural iron oxides is presented. The results of the activity tests and characterization techniques of natural and synthetic iron oxides (N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction, and plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) suggest that the use of chromium on iron oxide systems improved their hydrogen storage capacity. This is related to the capacity of chromium to modify the iron oxide reduction profile when Cr was incorporated. A direct reduction from Fe3O4 to Fe was observed as the mechanism for H2 storage. In addition, natural oxides as commercial Superfine and Densinox-L oxides are proved to be suitable materials to store and purify H2 due to their high stability during different cycles of reduction and oxidation. The best results among the natural ones were Densinox-L and among the synthetic ones Fe–10Cr.