Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 21 No 4 (2017): 901 - 906

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17576/mjas-2017-2104-16

 

 

 

EFFECT OF NICKEL ON BIMETALLIC NANOALLOY CATALYST FOR HYDROGEN GENERATION

 

(Kesan Nikel ke atas Mangkin Nanoaloi Dwilogam bagi Penghasilan Hidrogen)

 

Masitah Abdul Halim Azizi¹, Norliza Dzakaria², Wan Nor Roslam Wan Isahak¹*_, Mohd Ambar Yarmo²

 

¹Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment

²School of Chemical Science and Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: wannorroslam@ukm.edu.my

 

 

Received: 28 November 2016; Accepted: 27 April 2017

 

 

Abstract

A mesoporous Fe-Ni catalyst was prepared by microwave combustion method by using glycine as a fuel to help the combustion occur in the microwave. The bimetallic catalyst synthesized was intend to accelerate the production of hydrogen via decomposition of formic acid. The hydrogen produced supposedly can substitute the energy source used now especially from fossil fuels to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse effect. The catalyst sample was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherm (BET). From the BET isotherms, a type IV isotherm was observed, indicate the presence of mesoporous solid. XRD diffractograms of Fe-Ni have well-defined diffraction patterns with strong and sharp diffraction peaks, indicating that they are crystalline. The SEM images show the presence of voids and pores in the sample and spongy structure which also consisted of very fine crystalline. The selectivity for H₂ formation using the prepared bimetallic catalyst was achieved ranging of 94 to 99% for 120 minutes at optimum conversion of formic acid and merely at room temperature.

 

Keywords:  iron nickel catalyst, hydrogen energy, microwave combustion method, H₂ selectivity

 

Abstrak

Mangkin Fe-Ni yang bersifat mesoporos telah disediakan dengan menggunakan kaedah pembakaran oleh gelombang mikro dengan bantuan glisin sebagai bahan bakar. Mangkin dwilogam yang disintesis bertujuan untuk mempercepatkan penghasilan hidrogen melalui penguraian asid formik. Hidrogen yang dihasilkan diharapkan dapat menggantikan sumber tenaga yang digunakan dewasa ini terutama daripada bahan api fosil supaya dapat mengurangkan kesan rumah hijau. Sampel mangkin dicirikan dengan pembelauan sinar-X (XRD), mikroskopi pengimbasan elektron (SEM), dan isoterma penyerapan-penyahjerapan N₂ (BET). Daripada isoterma BET, isoterma jenis IV telah dikenalpasti, menandakan kehadiran pepejal mesoporos. Difraktogram XRD bagi Fe-Ni menunjukkan corak yang terbentuk dengan puncak yang baik dan tajam, menunjukkan mangkin tersebut merupakan hablur. Imej SEM menunjukkan kehadian ruang dan pori di dalam sampel dan berstruktur span dimana ia juga terdapat hablur yang sangat halus. Keterpilihan terhadap penghasilan gas H₂ menggunakan mangkin dwilogam FeNi adalah 94 – 99% pada masa tindak balas 120 minit pada peratus penukaran asid fomik yang optimum pada suhu bilik.

 

Kata kunci:  mangkin ferum nikel, tenaga hidrogen, kaedah pembakaran gelombang mikro, kepilihan H₂

 

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