Decomposition of H2O with M-ferrite (M=Cu and Ni) for H-2 generation

Abstract

The ferrites, NiFe2O4 and CuFe2O4, reduced by CH4 were applied to H2O decomposition for H-2 generation. In the reduction of the ferrites using CH4 up to 1073 K, H-2 and CO were generated by partial oxidation of CH4 above 973 K. The weight of CuFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 reduced almost the same mount at 1073 K. The reduction of CuFe2O4 at 1073 K formed the mixture of Cu, Fe, and FeO, while NiFe2O4 changed to the mixture of Ni-Fe alloy and FeO at the same temperature. The amount of the H2O decomposition with the reduced CuFe2O4 was larger than that with the reduced NiFe2O4 in the oxidation of the reduced ferrites using H2O up to 1073 K. In this reaction, H2O was decomposed by oxidation of Fe and FeO. However, the metallic Cu and Ni were not oxidized and remained to a metallic state at 1073 K. The H2O decomposition reaction with the reduced ferrites by CH4 is an excellent process preparing useful gas such as H-2 and CO, and decomposing H2O.