The inventive concepts disclosed relate to the production of green and blue hydrogen from hydrocarbons using visible light (from a laser, lamp or sun) and defect-engineered boron-rich photocatalysts. We demonstrate that the environment of the B atoms in the lattice can be tuned to favor the dehydrogenation of desired hydrocarbons on reaction sites under visible light. In addition to the hydrogen produced in gas form, carbon atoms are captured by the catalyst and form structures of potential higher value for future applications. Further study of the dark carbonaceous product revealed a graphitic aspect of the material. These findings highlight a new functionality of 2D materials for visible light-assisted capture and conversion of hydrocarbons, with great potential for green hydrogen production—i.e, hydrogen produced from renewable energy and without the release of CO or CO.sub.2.

Catalysts for converting carbon dioxide and methane to synthesis gas include an alumina supported copper-nickel alloy composition having the formula Ni.sub.xCu.sub.y. The catalyst comprises about 70% to about 98% by weight of alumina in the catalyst, wherein x is an atomic percentage nickel content and y is an atomic percentage copper content, and wherein a ratio of x to y is about 3:1 to about 10:1. In one embodiment, the Ni—Cu catalyst composition according to the present disclosure is derived by state of the art electronic structure calculations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT).

Processes for transforming an inert metal component into an active metal catalyst are provided. Apparatus and methods using active metal catalyst prepared according the process described herein are also provided.

Disclosed is a method of producing hydrogen (H.sub.2) gas and calcium carbonate from formaldehyde. The method includes combining an aqueous base, formaldehyde, and a transition metal complex having a coordination bond between a transition metal and a leaving group to form a homogeneous aqueous solution having a basic pH, wherein the leaving group dissociates from the transition metal complex in response to light and/or the basic pH of the solution, producing hydrogen (H.sub.2) gas and formate or a salt thereof from the formaldehyde present in the homogeneous aqueous solution, and producing calcium carbonate using the formate or salt thereof as a carbon source.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to CO.sub.2-free and/or low-CO.sub.2 methods of co-producing hydrogen and solid forms of carbon via natural gas decomposition using microwave radiation. The methods are efficient, self-sustaining, and environmentally benign. In a further aspect, the disclosure relates to recyclable and recoverable catalysts useful for enhancing the disclosed methods, wherein the catalysts are supported by solid forms of carbon. Methods for recycling the catalysts are also disclosed. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure provides a catalyst for a water gas shift reaction at middle temperature, the catalyst comprising a catalytically active component containing 40 to 80 mol % of copper (Cu), 15 to 50 mol % of zinc (Zn), and 1 to 13 mol % of aluminum (Al), relative to all metals of the catalyst, wherein an aluminum-rich layer is present in a surface layer of a particle of the catalyst. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a preparation method of the catalyst, and a hydrogen preparation method using the same.

Processes for transforming an inert metal component into an active metal catalyst are provided. Apparatus and methods using active metal catalyst prepared according the process described herein are also provided.

A catalyst system, which is active in pyrolyzing methane at reaction temperatures above 700° C., comprising a molten salt selected from the group consisting of the halides of alkali metals; the halides of alkaline earth metals; the halides of zinc, copper, manganese, cadmium, tin and iron; and mixtures thereof, the molten salt having dispersed therein one or more catalytically active forms of iron, molybdenum, manganese, nickel, cobalt, zinc, titanium, and copper in the form of finely divided elemental metals, metal oxides, metal carbides or mixtures thereof.

A methane cracking apparatus includes a supply pipeline that supplies a gas, a reactor having an interior space, and in which a catalyst for decomposing the gas may be disposed in the interior space, an agitator provided in the interior space and that agitates a material in the interior space, a first discharge pipeline connected to the reactor and that discharges decomposition materials generated as the gas may be decomposed, and a second discharge pipeline connected to the reactor, that discharges the decomposition materials, and disposed on an upper side of the first discharge pipeline.

The inventive concepts disclosed relate to the production of green and blue hydrogen from hydrocarbons using visible light (from a laser, lamp or sun) and defect-engineered boron-rich photocatalysts. We demonstrate that the environment of the B atoms in the lattice can be tuned to favor the dehydrogenation of desired hydrocarbons on reaction sites under visible light. In addition to the hydrogen produced in gas form, carbon atoms are captured by the catalyst and form structures of potential higher value for future applications. Further study of the dark carbonaceous product revealed a graphitic aspect of the material. These findings highlight a new functionality of 2D materials for visible light-assisted capture and conversion of hydrocarbons, with great potential for green hydrogen production ― i.e, hydrogen produced from renewable energy and without the release of CO or CO.sub.2.