Co-operation Profile

A research laboratory from a Swiss engineering school has developed a cost-effective process to produce hydrogen at desired pressure (0.5-600 atm) in a homogeneous catalytic reaction from formic acid. Hydrogen is directly usable in fuel cells or chemical process and doesn’t need to be transported or stored. Reaction rate is high and well controlled. A patent has been filed and the laboratory is looking for industrial partners for further development, license agreement, or financial resources. The system developed by the research laboratory allows hydrogen generation in situ from formic acid in batch or in continuous way and consequently avoids hydrogen transportation. The hydrogen is generated in a homogeneous catalytic reaction in aqueous medium. The reaction does not require any particular condition. By this process, hydrogen can be recovered at any pressure, from 0.5 to 600 atmosphere (adjustable partial pressure, important for fuel cells supplying), or higher if necessary. Hydrogen generation rate is high and well controllable. Moreover, hydrogen obtained is completely free from CO traces (poison for fuel cells) and can be easily separated from carbon dioxide. Tests in laboratory have been performed in high pressure laboratory reactors (Parr), with hydrogen production up to up to 2 cubic metre hydrogen gas / hour / litre of reactor (4 cubic metre gas mixture/hour/ litre reactor volume), up to 600 bar hydrogen partial pressure. Applications are in the field of high pressure hydrogen production, economic hydrogen source for industrial application (chemical or petrol industry) or in relation to fuel cells. This solution could increase the autonomy of fuel cells driven vehicles and avoid hydrogen transportation. Innovative aspects : - Hydrogen is generated by a chemical reaction from formic acid under mild conditions in aqueous medium. - The generated hydrogen is directly usable in fuel cells. - Temperature range for the reaction is ranging between 25 °C and 120°C. Optimal temperature is around 80 °C. - Hydrogen generation at very high rate. - Hydrogen generation is perfectly controllable. - Hydrogen generation either in”batch” or in continuous mode. - The generated hydrogen is completely free from CO traces. - The generated hydrogen can be easily separated from carbon dioxide. Main advantages : - No need for transport and storage of hydrogen gas under high pressure (or low temperature liquid hydrogen). - This hydrogen fuel is very economic and ecologic. - The generated hydrogen is directly usable in car engines. - Hydrogen gas can be generated at any pressure (tested up to 600 bars). - No need of external electric source to produce hydrogen, like in electrolytic hydrogen production process.

Industry active in fuel cell, in new motors development for vehicles, in hydrogen utilisation in the field of energy, petrol or chemical processes. Research institute: engineering laboratory for motor or process development based on high pressure hydrogen gas. - Task to be performed: further development, scale-up and integration of hydrogen production in an existing chemical process or in fuel cells.