PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN FROM NON-CYCLIC ORGANIC SUBSTANCES HAVING MULTIPLE ALCOHOL FUNCTIONALITY

摘要

A method of producing hydrogen gas from a reaction of an organic substancehaving multiple alcohol functionality with a base. Hydrogen can be produced ina reaction of a base with an organic substance having multiple alcoholfunctionality that may proceed through the formation of a bicarbonate orcarbonate compound as a byproduct. In some embodiments, the reaction may occurin the presence of water. The preferred organic substances include diols,triols, and higher order alcohols. Non-cyclic (linear or branched) organicsubstances having multiple alcohol functionality are among the preferredreactants. The instant base-facilitated hydrogen-producing reactions arethermodynamically more spontaneous than the corresponding conventionalreformation reactions of the organic substances and can produce hydrogen atless extreme reaction conditions. The preferred reactants further include lowvolatility organic substances having multiple alcohol functionality. Suchreactants permit the efficient formation of hydrogen in a liquid phase systemand enable a continuous reaction capability in the liquid phase without theneed to condense volatilized reactant.