Energy cogeneration and production of products with high added value from by-products of biomass

• Grant number: 18/16120-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2018
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Adalgisa Rodrigues de Andrade
• Grantee: Pedro Augusto Rossi de Camargo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Molecules containing carbon coming from the biomass can be potential materials for chemical industry of transformation, since the biomass is the only source of not fossil of carbon in large scale. In this context it is proposed the investigation about electrochemical oxidation of -HMF- (C6H6O3) in basic medium to establish the mechanism of oxidation with the possible products formed and the number of electrons that can be generated in the cogeneration of energy in fuel cell device of the type PEM. Will be used commercial catalysts (ETEK) platinum-based(C/Pt, C/PtSn e C/PtRu) with nominal composition of 40 % of the metal. Aiming at a better learning to a project of scientific research will be performed the physical characterization of electrocatalysts by various techniques: ray diffraction, MEV,X-ray dispersive energy, transmission electronic microscopy to confirm the informations about the structure of the material, composition, size and distribution of particles on the surface of Vulcan carbon. The electrochemical characterization of the oxidation of HMF will be performed by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, chronopotentiometry. Besides that, the electrochemically active area of the catalysts will be obtained by means of CO-stripping and hydrogen adsorption. Systematically controlled potential electrolysis will be performed varying the applied potential, current, support electrolyte and concentration of HMF. The analyzes of the formed products will be made by HPLC, RMN and LC/MS. Tests in fuel cells with HMF in basic medium will be performed to evaluate the electrocatalytic perfomance and verify the viability of cogeneration energy and high added value products. Finally will be performed the quantification of the products during the cell test operation to fuel.