Article

Scientists from Brazil's Ipen have developed a ceramic catalyst that significantly improves the conversion of ethanol to hydrogen, achieving 100% conversion and yielding 4.04 moles of hydrogen per mole of ethanol. The catalyst maintains operational stability for 85 hours with low carbon formation.

The research, published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, indicates that controlling the calcination temperature of the precursor oxide is crucial for performance. Using nickel instead of noble metals reduces costs and enhances the economic viability of hydrogen production. This development supports Brazil's strong ethanol production infrastructure and offers a path towards decentralized hydrogen production and low-carbon industrial applications.