Chemical utilization of hydrogen from fluctuating energy sources – Catalytic transfer hydrogenation from charged Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier systems

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 1010 - 1017
• Main Authors: Geburtig, Denise, Preuster, Patrick, Bösmann, Andreas, Müller, Karsten, Wasserscheid, Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 12.01.2016
• Subjects: Dehydrogenation; Dibenzyltoluene; Hydrogen storage; Hydrogenation; Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier; Transfer hydrogenation; Dibenzyltoluene; Transfer hydrogenation; Hydrogen storage; Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier; Dehydrogenation; Hydrogenation
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.10.013

Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) systems offer a very attractive way for storing and distributing hydrogen from electrolysis using excess energies from solar or wind power plants. In this contribution, an alternative, high-value utilization of such hydrogen is proposed namely its use in steady-state chemical hydrogenation processes. We here demonstrate that the hydrogen-rich form of the LOHC system dibenzyltoluene/perhydro-dibenzyltoluene can be directly applied as sole source of hydrogen in the hydrogenation of toluene, a model reaction for large-scale technical hydrogenations. Equilibrium experiments using perhydro-dibenzyltoluene and toluene in a ratio of 1:3 (thus in a stoichiometric ratio with respect to H2) yield conversions above 60%, corresponding to an equilibrium constant significantly higher than 1 under the applied conditions (270 °C). •Transfer hydrogenation using LOHC systems offers a highly attractive way to use hydrogen from intermittent electrolysis in steady-state chemical production processes.•The LOHC compound perhydro-dibenzyltoluene can be applied as sole source of hydrogen in catalytic transfer hydrogenation reactions.•Commercial Pt-based catalysts perform best in this reaction.