(114a) Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Methylcyclohexane for the On-Board Hydrogen Storage and Supply

In the current scenario of the energy demands, nations require alternative energy supplies that are not only sustainable and economical, but benign to the environment. A hydrogen based energy system is considered one among the possible alternatives. Cheap and safe storage of hydrogen is probably the greatest hurdle to the success of the hydrogen economy. The Methylcyclohexane-Toluene-Hydrogen (MTH) system is a safe and economical way for the storage and on-board hydrogen generation. Also, the existing motor fuel infrastructure can effectively be utilized for the transportation and dispensation of liquid methylcyclohexane. Commercial catalysts as well as in-house were studied for the range of reaction conditions to screen the best catalytic material required for the dehydrogenation reaction. The in-house catalyst was found not only highly active, selective towards toluene, but also with acceptable life. Rigorous kinetic analyses of the data were carried out for elucidating the reaction mechanism and for the development of an appropriate kinetic model. Based on the kinetic equation developed above, mathematical modeling and simulation of the dehydrogenating reactor was carried out for the optimum performance of the on-board dehydrogenating reactor.