Natural microgranular cellulose as alternative catalyst to metal nanoparticles for H2 production from NaBH4 methanolysis

- Renewable natural microgranular cellulose (Cell) as catalyst for H2 production.
- Modified Cell based natural catalyst to produce H2 from via methanolysis of NaBH4.
- Environmentally benign catalyst application to renewable solvent to generate H2.
- Greener catalyst for green energy applications: Cell, H2 and methanol, NaBH4.
- Re-generable green catalyst as Cell-EPC-DETA-HCl for H2 production.

Herein, we report the utilization of microgranular cellulose as a catalyst in virgin and in modified form to be used as metal free catalyst directly in methanolysis reaction of NaBH4 for hydrogen (H2) production. Cellulose was modified with epichlorohydrin and then with diethylenetriamine as Cell-EPC-DETA followed by protonation by hydrochloric acid treatment to obtain Cell-EPC-DETA-HCl. The hydrogen generation rates (HGR) of 408 and 2015 mL H2/g catalyst.min were estimated for bare cellulose, and Cell-EPC-DETA, respectively upon their use as catalysts in the methanolysis reaction of NaBH4. Interestingly, HGR value is almost increased 1.6 fold increased, 3215 mL H2/(g catalyst min) upon potations. Besides, the activation energies of Cell-EPC-DETA and Cell-EPC-DETA-HCl were determined as 38.2 and 34.4 kJ/mol, respectively that are comparable with the literature. Moreover, the reusability studies of Cell-EPC-DETA and Cell-EPC-DETA-HCl were performed and it was found that there is no decreasing on% conversion for both catalyst, whereas % activity decreased to 61 ± 6, and 65 ± 4% for Cell-EPC-DETA and Cell-EPC-DETA-HCl.

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