The use of liquid metals (LMs) in catalytic applications has gained increasing attention due to their intriguing properties that are comparable to transitional metals. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of New South Wales and University of Sydney, led by Prof. Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh, explored the use of gallium in breaking down organic bonds in a gallium-ethylene glycol system.
The researchers used mechanical agitation to monitor the gaseous products and performed characterizations on the post-reaction mixture. They found that the hydrogen gas production was continuous and highly selective, and gaseous alkanes and alkenes were also observed in the output.
The study demonstrates the capability of LMs to efficiently break down organic bonds and presents a novel approach for ethylene glycol reformation using an LM-based process. The process took place at near-room temperature, which is a significant step forward in lowering the temperature from hundreds of degrees reported in previous dehydrogenative strategies. The simplicity of the system should possess significant flexibility, indicating good scalability and potential for scaling up. The research also proposes possibilities of value-added reaction pathways and products, such as polymers, which are rarely reported.
The study provides insightful information into an innovative formula for biomass reformation and H2 production. This approach offers a promising alternative to conventional methods and highlights the potential of LMs in environment-friendly and alternative strategies for hydrogen production and organic transformation toward valuable products. The findings of this research have significant implications for the future of catalysis and renewable energy production. The next step would be to further explore the potential of LMs in various catalytic applications and to develop sustainable and efficient processes for renewable energy production.
The research is published in the Chemical Engineering Journal Volume 460, 15 March 2023, 141840, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.141840