Cost Of Catalyst Research Articles

GO modification with PANI-PpPDA as support material for Pd-Ni and its application for ethanol electrooxidation

Among different renewable energy sources, fuel cells emerged to be a promising solution. However, due to limitations such as high cost and low stability of current commercial catalysts, several approaches are considered to modify them. Graphene oxide (GO) modification via a facile in-situ polymerization of aniline (ANI) and p-phenylenediamine (pPDA) in the presence of GO sheets is the main goal of this study. Pd and Ni as active metals are chemically deposited on the support material. The prepared substrates and catalysts are examined by various structural and electrochemical tests. This study shows that GO-PANI-PpPDA support material has favorable characteristics with 32.64 % higher surface area compared to GO. High surface area and porosity lead to more loading and uniform distribution of metallic particles. GO-PANI-PpPDA/Pd-Ni exhibited superior eligible properties including 29.28 % higher electrochemically active surface area compared to GO/Pd-Ni. This nanohybrid has the lowest charge transfer resistance, highest current density, stability and durability and it loses 5.67 % of the initial current after 15 h. This method shows promising results as an advanced strategy to synthesize low-cost and high-performance Pd-based electrocatalysts on the modified GO.

An Innovative Approach to Assess the Potentiality of Using Activated Carbon and Rice Husk Ash in Aluminum-Air Battery

Aluminum-air (Al-air) cells have the potential to become vital in energy storage applications in the future because of their high energy density, which is even higher than that of commonly used lithium-ion batteries. However, it is not used widely because the cost of air cathode catalysts and metal anode is high. However, suppose the catalysts are replaced with activated carbon or rice husk ash as an alternative and recycled aluminum foil as an anode. In that case, the production cost might be feasible for the vast use of this type of cell. This study's main objective is to utilize some commonly available material in fabricating an Al-air battery suitable for small and day-to-day usage, reducing production costs and limitations. In this paper, a focused analysis was made on the feasibility of using an activated carbon and rice husk mixture as an air cathode catalyst for an Al-air cell, and the observations were interesting. About 11 samples of a mixture of rice husk ash (RHA) and activated carbon (AC) in different ratios have been made to find the best results from 0.68-0.72 V, which increases by 8-20%, measuring each sample after 3 days. In this study, another attempt was made to replace the graphite cathode of a dry cell with a mixture of AC and RHA. Voltage drop is quite negligible for the mixture of 10% RHA. The resulting voltage is similar to the new 100% activated carbon battery as a cathode. If considering the environmental effect, using recycled activated carbon and rice husk ash will decrease pollution and open a new door to apply in primary cells.

Intelligent Algorithms Enable Photocatalyst Design and Performance Prediction

Photocatalysts have made great contributions to the degradation of pollutants to achieve environmental purification. The traditional method of developing new photocatalysts is to design and perform a large number of experiments to continuously try to obtain efficient photocatalysts that can degrade pollutants, which is time-consuming, costly, and does not necessarily achieve the best performance of the photocatalyst. The rapid development of photocatalysis has been accelerated by the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Intelligent algorithms can be utilized to design photocatalysts and predict photocatalytic performance, resulting in a reduction in development time and the cost of new catalysts. In this paper, the intelligent algorithms for photocatalyst design and photocatalytic performance prediction are reviewed, especially the artificial neural network model and the model optimized by an intelligent algorithm. A detailed discussion is given on the advantages and disadvantages of the neural network model, as well as its application in photocatalysis optimized by intelligent algorithms. The use of intelligent algorithms in photocatalysis is challenging and long term due to the lack of suitable neural network models for predicting the photocatalytic performance of photocatalysts. The prediction of photocatalytic performance of photocatalysts can be aided by the combination of various intelligent optimization algorithms and neural network models, but it is only useful in the early stages. Intelligent algorithms can be used to design photocatalysts and predict their photocatalytic performance, which is a promising technology.

Synthesis and HER properties of honeycomb Mo2WS6/NF nanorod array solid solution alloys

The electrolytic water-based hydrogen production demonstrates exceptional selectivity, minimal environmental impact, and superior purity of the generated hydrogen, thereby presenting promising prospects for a wide range of applications. The scarcity and high cost of Pt-based catalysts for industrial applications necessitate the development of low-cost, stable, and efficient transition metal electrocatalysts for hydrogen electrochemical precipitation (HER). In this paper, Mo2WS6 nanorod array with honeycomb structure was successfully synthesized via one-step hydrothermal vulcanisation of transition metals W and Mo on nickel foam (NF) substrate. The honeycomb nanorod array structure exhibits enhanced specific surface area and abundant active sites, and the well-defined pore structure facilitates the transport of electrolyte and reactive substances. The intrinsic activity of the active sites is significantly enhanced by the synergistic effect of MoS2 and WS2, facilitated by the formation of solid solution alloys. Excellent HER performance (η10=63 mV, η100=183 mV) was demonstrated in alkaline electrolyte (1.0 M KOH) with a corresponding Tafel slope of 93 mV dec−1. Furthermore, Mo2WS6 exhibited excellent stability after undergoing 5000 cycles of charge/discharge and a constant voltage test lasting for 96 hours. This study provides a novel approach for facile synthesis of high-efficiency HER catalysts by a one-step hydrothermal method.

One-Step Synthesis of 3D Graphene Aerogel Supported Pt Nanoparticles as Highly Active Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation Reaction.

Nowadays, two of the biggest obstacles restricting the further development of methanol fuel cells are excessive cost and insufficient catalytic activity of platinum-based catalysts. Herein, platinum nanoparticle supported graphene aerogel (Pt/3DGA) was successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal self-assembly method. The loose three-dimensional structure of the aerogel is stabilized by a simple one-step method, which not only reduces cost compared to the freeze-drying technology, but also optimizes the loading method of nanoparticles. The prepared Pt/3DGA catalyst has a three-dimensional porous structure with a highly cross-linked, large specific surface area, even dispersion of Pt NPs and good electrical conductivity. It is worth noting that its catalytic activity is 438.4 mA/mg with long-term stability, which is consistent with the projected benefits of anodic catalytic systems in methanol fuel cells.. Our study provides an applicable method for synthesizing nano metal particles/graphene-based composites.

Evolution of the Manufacturing Route towards a Key Benzothiophen‐2‐yl‐Boronic Acid Building Block of Rogaratinib

AbstractThe evolution of the synthesis of a benzothiophene‐2‐yl‐boronic acid ‐ a key building block for the anti‐cancer agent Rogaratinib ‐ is reported from multi‐gram scale to industrialization. The pitfalls and learnings during process development are outlined, describing the optimization of the initial research synthesis route, investigation of an alternative approach based on a palladium‐catalyzed Newman‐Kwart rearrangement and finally changing the synthetic strategy from thiophene‐construction to benzene‐ring formation. Although the initial route was utilized to deliver material on kg‐scale, the requirements for market‐supply triggered the decision to pursue a new synthetic route. Catalyst costs, high purity‐requirements, and not the least technical practicality caused the change to a synthesis with indeed higher step‐count. However, this could be mitigated by repeated application of a telescoping approach. The free boronic acid was finally selected and manufactured as a stable isolated intermediate after challenges like proto‐deboronation and trimerization to boroxine upon drying could be solved by an optimized crystallization procedure.

Hydrogenation of olefinic bonds in nitrile butadiene rubber on single-atom Pd1/CeO2−x catalysts with ultrahigh mass activity and stability

As pivotal high-performance elastomers, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) was commonly manufactured by selective hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). Nevertheless, the high cost and poor stability of current noble metal-based catalysts seriously limit their large-scale applications. Herein, we report single-atom Pd supported by oxygen vacancies-rich CeO2−x nanorods (Pd1/CeO2−x) as a novel catalyst for selectively hydrogenating the NBR. As a result of strong interaction between single-atom Pd and CeO2−x support, the electrophilicity of Pd sites, and the nucleophilicity of olefinic bonds in NBR, the Pd1/CeO2−x show a very high hydrogenated degree of 97.6 %, an unprecedentedly high Pd mass activity of 93.9 gNBR gPd−1h−1, and outstanding cycling stability, which considerably outperform those for previously reported catalysts. Therefore, this work will promote the low-cost manufacture of HNBR and the exploration of single-atom catalysts for selective hydrogenation.

Preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon pyrolyzed from ZIF-8 and its performance in electrocatalytic oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide

As an environment-friendly strategy, electrocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation via two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e– ORR) has attracted significant scientific and technological attention. Nevertheless, limited to the low catalytic activity and high cost of noble metal-containing catalysts, forging desired electrocatalysts with high catalytic activity, low cost, and sustainability is still challenging. In this work, nitrogen doped porous carbon materials named p-ZIF-800 and p-ZIF-950 were obtained by pyrolysis of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals at 800 °C and 950 °C, respectively. Then, they were employed as a catalytic layer in the gas diffusion electrodes p-ZIF-n/Ni/CB (n = 800 °C or 950 °C, CB = acetylene black). The production rates of H2O2 are up to 1.18 mg h−1 cm−2 and 1.25 mg h−1 cm−2 for p-ZIF-800/Ni/CB and p-ZIF-950/Ni/CB, respectively. Noticeably, although p-ZIF-800 had a lower degree of graphitization the difference in catalytic activity between p-ZIF-800 and p-ZIF-950 is negligible. This can be construed as a higher total nitrogen and richer mesoporous structure in p-ZIF-800 than in p-ZIF-950. Under optimized conditions of an electrode spacing of 3 cm, a pH value of 6.5, and a current density of 7.5 mA cm−2, the H2O2 production rate of p-ZIF-800/Ni/CB in the “floating-cathode” cell is up to as high as 2.09 mg h−1 cm−2, which is about 3.3 times higher than that of the cell with the “submerged-cathode” under aeration and stirring. Also, the p-ZIF-800/Ni/CB cathode demonstrates remarkable stability, it maintains its structure without losing catalytic activity after 5 catalytic cycle experiments. These results indicate that the state-of-the-art pyrolysis-based nitrogen-doped porous carbon materials exhibit a high potential for the advanced electrocatalyst of H2O2 electrogeneration.

Activated carbon from waste fabrics as a catalyst for NaBH4 methanolysis

Hydrogen energy is attractive as a sustainable and clean energy. Chemical hydrides are being studied as a solution to the transportation and storage problems of hydrogen. Hydrogen can be produced by methanolysis reaction of sodium borohydride on a suitable catalyst. For this purpose, metal catalysts with high catalytic activity are generally used. Despite their high catalytic activity, the environmental impact and cost of metal-containing catalysts has led to increased interest in synthesizing metal-free catalysts. Activated carbons are advantageous materials for metal-free catalyst applications. In recent years, industrial wastes have attracted much attention for the synthesis of sustainable materials for activated carbon preparation. In this study, activated carbons are produced from waste fabrics by chemical activation method using H3PO4 and KOH chemical agents at different impregnation ratios (1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 % w:w) and different carbonization temperatures (400, 500, 600°C for H3PO4 and 600, 700, 800°C for KOH). These carbons are used as catalysts for hydrogen production and their catalytic activity is evaluated based on hydrogen generation rate (HGR). Therefore, the effect of different conditions used in the preparation of activated carbon was investigated to determine its impact on HGR. The increase in carbonization temperature decreases the HGR value of the catalyst. The increase in acid concentration increases the HGR value. The highest HGR value is obtained as 39600 mL/(min.gcat) with YKK1–800 activated carbon. Once the carbon with high activity is identified, the effect of reaction conditions such as NaBH4, methanol, catalyst amount, and temperature on HGR is investigated. The catalytic activities of the prepared activated carbons in NaBH4 electrooxidation are also investigated. YKK3–700 activated carbon shows the highest catalytic activity at 1.91 mA/cm2 at −0.63 V peak potential. This result is promising for the use of metal-free catalysts for direct sodium borohydride fuel cells.

Highly dispersed palladium nanoparticles decorated on nitrogen doped graphene for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting

Among various clear energy generation processes, electrocatalytic water splitting or hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has been considered as an efficient method for the sustainable production of hydrogen (H2) fuel. But, significant efforts are still required to develop cheap, effective and stable electrocatalysts for water splitting to achieve the economical production of H2. In the quest of finding cheap electrocatalysts, herein, we demonstrate the preparation of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles decorated nitrogen (N) doped highly reduced graphene oxide (NDG-Pd) based electrocatalysts. The nitrogen (N) doped highly reduced graphene oxide (NDG) was produced by using graphene oxide as precursor, which was reduced and doped with nitrogen, simultaneously in one-step hydrothermal method. Subsequently, Pd nanoparticles were decorated on the surface of NDG using a facile ultrasonic method to produce NDG-Pd. In order to restrict the amount of precious metal to reduce the cost of catalysts, very small percentage of Pd, such as, 1 and 3 % was utilized during the preparation of electrocatalysts. The as-prepared electrocatalysts were successfully characterized by using different methods such as, XRD, XPS, EDX, BET, SEM and TEM. Results confirmed the formation of slightly agglomerated, smaller size of Pd NPs on the surface of NDG with an average particle size of ∼ 6 nm. The as prepared nanocomposites NDG, NDG-Pd1% and NDG-Pd3% were used to prepare electrodes and their electrocatalytic activity was evaluated towards the production of H2 through water splitting. The results of electrochemical performance of as-prepared electrodes within the voltage range have revealed that among different samples prepared, the NDG did not show any current, whereas NDG-Pd3% showed a good potential for HER with current density ≈24 mA/cm2 at very low potential i.e. −0.2 V vs RHE.

Tuning the interfacial interactions between alumina support and pseudo single atom platinum-tin catalytic sites for heavy naphtha reforming

Heavy naphtha reforming, a crucial downstream process in oil refineries for improving the octane number of the gasoline feedstock, requires expensive Pt metal catalysts and it accounts for 60% of the catalyst cost. These conventional Pt nanoparticle sizes range between 1 – 2 nm and thus, only ≈ 80% of the Pt atoms of the particle are available for the catalytic reactions. In this work, we hypothesized that it might be possible to achieve 100% atom utilization if the Pt atoms are distributed as single or pseudo-single atom clusters, where all the atoms are exposed to the reactant molecules and by tuning their Interfacial Interactions. We aimed to significantly reduce the Pt contents by dispersing the active Pt sites as pseudo-single atoms on industrially relevant γ-Al2O3 support. Interfacial Interactions and stability of Pt sites were then tuned by using tin (Sn) as a promoter. These catalysts were then evaluated for heavy naphtha reforming in a fixed-bed reactor. The catalyst with Sn/Pt mole ratio of 1.68 showed excellent performance with aromatics of 83 wt% and research octane number (RON) of ≈ 103. These results indicated our catalyst preparation methodologies and interfacial interaction tuning successfully disperse Pt on the spherical alumina support leading to better atom economy. With 30–50% less Pt content when compared to the industrially used catalyst, made the heavy naphtha reforming process economical and sustainable.

Design and simulation of 30 000 tons per year of cumene plant from natural gas field

Abstract The research considers the design and simulation of 30 000 tons per year of cumene plant using Aspen HYSYS as the simulation tool. The feed (material content) used is the characterized natural gas from Utorogu Gas Field with composition of 0.9019 methane, 0.0694 ethane, 0.0209 propane, 0.00361 n-butane, 0.00414 i-butane, 0.00005 n-pentane and 0.00007 i-pentane. The cumene plant consist of the cryogenic distillation column, de-hydrogenator (Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor), Alkylator (Plug Flow Reactor), storage tanks, separators, pumps, heat exchanger and mixers. The size/design models of basic plant units such as de-hydrogenator, alkylator, separators, storage tanks and distillation column were developed using the principles of mass and energy balance. The result of design or size specifications in terms of equipment diameter of basic plant units obtained from HYSYS simulation are 0.8 m and 0.319 m for the cryogenic and cumene columns; 1.931 m, 2.244 m and 1.366 m for the propane, propene and cumene storage tanks; 1.868 m and 2.076 m for the de-hydrogenator and alkylator; 1.931 m and 2.146 m for propene and cumene separators respectively. The power or capacity of propane and propene pumps configured in the plant are 0.02 kW and 0.005 kW respectively. The result of the reactor and distillation column thickness specification to withstand corrosion, pressure or stress during plant operation in terms of cylindrical shell and ellipsoidal doomed head are 17.36 mm and 4.31 mm respectively. The economic evaluation (overall cost) including the cost of utilities, catalyst, operating, and maintenance for entire plant is $ 3.004 M.

Selective synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones and their N1-substituted analogues via Pd(II)-catalyzed cascade annulation of o-aminobenzoic acids with CO, ammonium acetate and aldehydes

A range of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones and their N1-substituted analogues have been selectively prepared mostly in moderate to excellent yields through Pd(II)-catalyzed one-pot annulation of o-aminobenzoic acids with CO, ammonium acetate and aldehydes. This protocol features with simple raw materials and operation, low catalyst loading and cost, high step economy & efficiency, good product diversity and broad applicability.

A green approach for preparation of MnFeTi Low-temperature NH3-SCR catalysts: utilizing spent V2O5–WO3/TiO2 Catalysts

V2O5–WO3/TiO2 catalysts are commonly used in industry to remove nitrogen oxides. However, spent V2O5–WO3/TiO2 are hazardous solid waste, and their improper disposal can lead to water and soil pollution risks. This study proposes a waste-to-resource approach that promotes the safe disposal of spent catalysts while reducing the production cost of denitrification catalysts. Specifically, vanadium-free low-temperature selective catalytic reduction catalysts are synthesized using spent catalysts. The optimized catalyst, named MnFeTi-22, exhibits a broad temperature activity range, with NO conversion exceeding 96 % from 100 to 300 °C. Even with 5 % H2O, the catalyst maintains a 95 % NO conversion (at approximately 200 °C). Characterization results confirm that the loading of TiO2 recycled from spent catalysts onto MnFe significantly optimizes the distribution of active species. Furthermore, TiO2 can adjust the distribution of acidic sites and the quantity of surface-adsorbed oxygen, promoting electron transfer between Mn4+/Fe2+ and Mn3+/Fe3+.

Polar Molecules Regulating the Regio- and Stereoselectivity of Polymerization of Conjugated Dienes Catalyzed by CGC-Type Rare-Earth Metal Catalysts.

Herein, a concise, effective, and scalable strategy is reported that the introduction of polar molecules (PMs) (e.g., anisole (PhOMe), phenetole (PhOEt), 2-methoxynaphthalene (NaphOMe), thioanisole (PhSMe), and N,N-dimethylaniline (PhNMe2)) as continuously coordinated neutral ligand of cationic active species in situ generated from the constrain-geometry-configuration-type rare-earth metal complexes A-F/AliBu3/[Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] ternary systems can easily switch the regio- and stereoselectivity of the polymerization of conjugated dienes (CDs, including 2-subsituted CDs such as isoprene (IP) and myrcene (MY), 1,2-disubstituted CD ocimene (OC), and 1-substituted polar CD 1-(para-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-butadiene (p-MOPB)) from poor selectivities to high selectivities (for IP and MY: 3,4-selectivity up to 99%; for OC: trans-1,2-selectivity up to 93% (mm up to 90%); for p-MOPB: 3,4-syndioselectivity (3,4- up to 99%, rrrr up to 96%)). DFT calculations explain the continuous coordination roles of PMs on the regulation of the regio- and stereoselectivity of the polymerization of CDs. In comparison with the traditional strategies, this strategy by adding some common PMs is easier and more convenient, decreasing the synthetic cost and complex operation of new metal catalyst and cocatalyst. Such regio- and stereoselective regulation method by using PMs is not reported for the coordination polymerization of olefins catalyzed by rare-earth metal and early transition metal complexes.

Comparative assessment of pyrolysis and Gasification-Fischer Tropsch for sustainable aviation fuel production from waste tires

The aviation industry is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, making it critical to transition from traditional fossil jet fuels to eco-friendly sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). This change is essential to achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2030. Moreover, Waste tires presents a significant environmental challenge due to their durability and difficulty of disposal. Their toxic and flammable nature complicates storage and processing. To address these challenges, waste tires can be processed to SAF using thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis to bio-oil and hydroprocessing, or gasification to syngas and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (GFT). While waste tires appear to be a viable feedstock,there have not been studies to date that thoroughly compared the most efficient thermochemical process of converting waste tires to SAF. This study compares the economic and environmental impacts of two waste tire based SAF production methods (Pyrolysis/hydroprocessing and GFT). Economically, both methods are more favorable compared to other SAF pathways such as alcohol to jet (ATJ) or hydroprocessing of esters and fatty acids (HEFA). Pyrolysis SAF costs more (0.78 USD/l) than GFT SAF (0.66 USD/l). Pyrolysis is sensitive to hydrogen costs, with a 30% price fluctuation significantly impacting its minimum fuel selling price (MFSP). In contrast, the GFT method is more influenced by catalyst costs. Environmentally, pyrolysis emits less CO2 (34.3 kg CO2 eq/kg SAF) compared to GFT (58.6 kg CO2 eq/kg SAF) but has a higher potential environmental impact in several categories, except for terrestrial ecotoxicity, where both methods are similar. Although pyrolysis has a lower global warming potential (GWP), it presents higher risks in toxicity and photochemical pollution.

Enhanced lanthanum-stabilized low crystallinity metal oxide electrocatalysts with superior activity for oxygen reactions

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are key electrochemical reactions for the development of rechargeable Zn-air batteries. However, due to the high cost of commercial noble metal-based catalysts and their limited bifunctionality, it is necessary the design of new electrocatalysts. In this study, stable electrocatalysts have been synthesized through a hydrothermal method and further low-temperature thermal treatment. The materials consist of La stabilized low crystallinity Mn and Co metal (hydro-)oxides. The electrocatalytic performance of these materials has been compared with counterparts calcined at higher temperatures. The findings demonstrate that materials synthesized at lower temperatures and with low crystallinity exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity for both ORR and OER. Moreover, the research highlights the favorable influence of the lanthanum cation, which enhances changes of surface morphology and oxidation states of other cations (Mn and Co). Additionally, the positive contribution of the carbon component to electrochemical activity and electrical conductivity has been elucidated. The best electrocatalyst was studied in a rechargeable Zn-air battery with a durability of up to 120 h. They exhibited better stability and performance than the commercial Pt/C + RuO2 catalyst currently used.

RuCo@P Core-Shell Nanoparticles Filled with Carbon Nanotubes for Highly Effective Catalytic Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane

The doping of nonmetals in multiphase metal catalysts can effectively improve the catalytic performance and reduce the catalyst cost. In this study, we synthesized transition metal phosphide (RuCo@P/CNT) catalysts loaded on carbon nanotubes (CNT) using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as the reducing agent. The microstructure and phase composition of RuCo@P/CNT nanoparticles were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and BET. RuCo@P/CNT nanoparticles show superior catalytic activity and cycle stability in the catalytic ammonia borane hydrolysis process compared to Ru/CNT and RuCo/CNT nanoparticles, retaining 65.74% of their initial catalytic activity after 5 reaction cycles. The test yielded values for turnover frequency and activation energy of 327.33 min-1 and 36.77 kJ·mol-1, respectively. Additionally, a kinetic isotope effect value of 2.61 for H2O/D2O showed that O-H bond breaking in proportional acceptor water is the decisive step in the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane, and based on this discovery, a specific mechanism for the catalytic hydrolysis of AB by RuCo@P NPs is postulated.

Techno-economic and life-cycle analysis of single-step catalytic conversion of bioethanol to fuel blendstocks over Ni-doped HZSM-5 zeolite catalyst

This work presents techno-economic and life-cycle studies focusing on the catalytic conversion of ethanol into hydrocarbon fuel blendstocks. These analyses benefit from recent advancements in catalyst and process development. The consolidated alcohol dehydration and oligomerisation for ethanol-to-hydrocarbon (CADO-ETH) conversion approach, described here, achieves a single-step transformation of wet ethanol vapour into hydrocarbons and H2O using a Ni-doped HZSM-5 catalyst. Catalyst cost estimation using the CatCost model showed that commercial synthesis of Ni/HZSM-5 incurred significant processing costs, which varied greatly depending on the manufacturing scale. Hence, catalyst production using 100 % and 50 % baseline scale production (BSP) requirements resulted in net catalyst costs of $31.4 and $69.9/kg, respectively. Although current CADO products closely resemble gasoline blendstocks, they can also be blended with gasoline fuel at low levels. There is potential for higher-level blending in the future. The operating and annualised capital costs for converting wet ethanol into fuel blendstocks were predicted to be $0.05/L at present and projected to decrease to $0.03/L in the future. This cost is comparable to the unit energy cost of synthesising anhydrous ethanol from wet ethanol, which is $0.02/L. At an oil price of 100 $/bbl, the expected minimum selling prices for the fuel blendstocks produced by CADO are similar to the prices for conventional gasoline. However, at an oil price of $60/bbl, the estimated minimum selling prices for CADO-derived blendstocks are not competitive with conventional gasoline. Nevertheless, considering existing production incentives, the projected minimum selling price for gasoline blendstock is comparable to the oil price of $60/bbl. The LCA shows that the CO2 emissions of gasoline produced from crude oil are 90.2 gCO2 e/MJ, which is 25 %, 53 % and 63 % more than the emissions of gasoline produced from corn starch, sugarcane, and cane cellulose, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the single-step CADO-ETH technology is promising for the production of renewable fuels and offers a potential pathway to reduce the carbon footprint.

Improving Pt Utilization and Electrochemical Activity of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Through Surface Modification of Carbon Nanotube Catalyst Support

The main hindrances in commercializing hydrogen fuel cells are the high catalyst cost, sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics, and low durability over long cycling. Herein, a low‐Pt‐based efficient cathode catalyst decorated on nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotube (CNT) support is developed. The effect of N doping and chemical etching of CNTs on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are demonstrated in this work. Half‐cell studies showed that Pt decorated N‐doped etched carbon nanotubes (Pt/NECNT) exhibit higher electrochemical surface area, onset potential, specific activity, and mass activity than Pt/CNT, Pt/ECNT, Pt/NCNT, and commercial Pt/C samples. In contrast to the commercial Pt/C catalyst, minimal loss in limiting current density and half‐wave potential is observed for Pt/NECNT catalyst even after the 10000th ADT cycle. From single‐cell study, the peak power density of 950 mW cm−2 and operational power density of 840 mW cm−2 (at 0.6 V) are obtained using Pt/NECNT cathode catalyst at 80 °C with low Pt loading. The remarkable enhancement in the electrocatalytic activity, kinetic property, and high durability of Pt/NECNT are ascribed to the N doping and surface modification of CNT support.