Hydrogen storage using heterocyclic compounds: The hydrogenation of 2-methylthiophene

• Published in: Catalysis today Vol. 149; no. 1; pp. 172 - 184
• Main Authors: Zhao, H.Y., Oyama, S.T., Naeemi, E.D.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: 2-Methylthiophene; Alkyl substituted thiophenes; Bimetallics; Catalysis; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Hydrogen storage; Hydrogenation; Noble metals; Phosphides; Sulfides; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Sulfides; Bimetallics; Hydrogen storage; Phosphides; Noble metals; Hydrogenation; Alkyl substituted thiophenes; 2-Methylthiophene; Five membered ring; Binary compound; Hydrogen; Selectivity; Thiophene; Pentane; Silica; Supported catalyst; Ring cleavage; Alkyl; Platinum; Noble metal; Chemical reactivity; Clean fuel; Catalyst support; Aluminium oxide; Air pollution control; Thiol; Transition metal; Heterogeneous catalysis; Pentene; Sulfur heterocycle; Storage; Dehydrogenation; Silicon oxides; Alumina; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0920-5861; 1873-4308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2009.02.039

Alkyl substituted thiophenes are promising candidates for hydrogen carriers, as their dehydrogenation reactions are known to occur under mild conditions. Four types of catalysts, including supported noble metals, bimetallic noble metals, transition metal phosphides and transition metal sulfides, have been investigated for 2-methylthiophene (2MT) hydrogenation and ring-opening. The major products were tetrahydro-2-methylthiophene (TH2MT), pentenes and pentane, with very little C 5-thiols observed. The selectivity towards the desired product TH2MT follows the order: noble metals > bimetallics > phosphides > sulfides. The best hydrogenation catalyst was 2% Pt/Al 2O 3 which exhibited relatively high reactivity and selectivity towards TH2MT at moderate temperatures. Temperature-programmed reaction (TPR) experiments revealed that pentanethiol became the major product, especially with HDS catalysts like CoMoS/Al 2O 3 and WP/SiO 2.