Molecular Hydrogen Evolution Due to Oxidative Decomposition of Formaldehyde Catalyzed by Bituminous Coal; Flow Reactor Studies

摘要

Recently it has been observed that Bituminous coal stored under atmospheric condition emit small but appreciable amounts of molecular hydrogen, at relatively low temperature range 40-120°C and is linearly dependent on the amounts of the oxygen consumed by the coal. A possible precursor to the molecular hydrogen produced is formaldehyde, reported to be one of the minor components formed by low temperature oxidation of coal. Furthermore coal pile monitoring have proved that hydrogen gas is present in the piles. Batch reactor studies have proved that formaldehyde undergoes oxidative decomposition with oxygen which occurs only in the presence of bituminous coal surface (which serves as a catalyst). Experiments in flow through reactors have corroborated the batch reactor studies. It has been proved that under steady state conditions oxygen presence affects appreciably the amounts of molecular hydrogen released.