Continuous catalytic dehydrogenation of decalin under mild conditions

In order to apply the organic liquid hydrides as hydrogen storage and mobile media, continuous hydrogen production from decalin under mild temperature conditions (210-280 degrees C) was attempted by the use of carbon-supported platinum fine particles as a catalyst. Efficient hydrogen evolution from decalin was achieved under the concept of "superheated liquid-film type catalysis" even at 210 degrees C. Effects of the decalin feed flow rate, amount of catalyst and external heating temperatures on the decalin conversion and the evolution rate of hydrogen were also investigated. The conversion of decalin increased with a decreasing decalin feed flow rate, whereas the evolution rate of hydrogen gave a maximum value at a certain feed flow rate of decalin. It was also found that the ratio of the retention volume of decalin to the catalyst amount is an important factor to maintain the catalyst layer at the superheated liquid-film state.