European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and

European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research www. cost. esf. org Research and Development of Bioethanol Processing for Fuel Cells Action 543 Start date: 11/10/2006 End date: 10/10/2010 Year: 3 Riitta Keiski Chair University of Oulu/Finland COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Action Parties Grant Holder: COST Office In the future: University of Oulu Prof. Riitta Keiski Finland COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme 2 ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Action participants Total of individual participants: Research groups (2006 -2008), Reported individual participants (2009), Reports from 16/28 groups No Non-COST Action Countries COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme 3 ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Use of COST Instruments The activity is now successfully organized and running productively Management Committee meetings: § 1(2006/Brussels), 2(2007/ Freising, Genoa), 2(2008/Brussels, Maennedorf), 1 (2009/Frascati) – to plan activities and follow-up the progress Work Shops: § 2(2007/Freising, Genoa), 3(2008/Brussels, Maennedorf, St Andrews), 2(2009/Frascati, Helsinki) – to enhance scientific collaboration and sharing of information Short Term Scientific Missions: § 1 finalized (from Finland to Italy for 2 months), 1 in row in 2009, target 4 – to enhance researcher education and international networking Training School in Oulu, FI, June 2 -6, 2008 ‘Sustainable Production and Energy: Catalysis by Nanomaterials, Catalytic Mircoreactors’ – strongly related to the needs of the COST Action 543, education of ESRs to this field Training School in Oulu, FI, May 4 -8, 2009 ’Environmental Applications of Ti. O 2 Photocatalysis’ – collaboration between 3 COST Actions (543, 540, P 19), education of ESRs to this field Core Group activity: § 3 meetings in 2007 and 2008 in Brussels, in 2009 Extended Core Group Meetintg in Helsinki – to enhance scientific activities and plan joint EU proposals GASG: § Building and maintaining of the COST Action 543 web-pages in 2007 and 4 COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Use of COST instruments 2006 -2007 2008 2009 2010 No. of MC / WG meetings 3 2 2 Planned 2 No. of STSMs 0 0 1 (1 in row) Planned 4 No. of workshops / conferences 2 3 2 Planned 2 No. of joint publications <10 15 20 >20 (mostly national collaboration) (national + international collaboration) No. of training schools GASG (activities) COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme 0 1 1 Planned 1 -2 Website, TS Report 5 ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Scientific context and objectives (1/2) Research area: § Developing new technologies for the efficient modification and use of ligno-cellulose based bioethanol in small-scale fuel cell systems of electric power output between 0. 5 to 10 k. W. Brief reminder of Mo. U objectives: § Increasing the awareness/commitment of different players towards the bioethanol concept and promoting thermodynamic studies of biophysical processes for finding new models from nature for technical solutions. § Designing equipment for bioethanol reforming and product gas processing/cleaning for H 2 production to be used in selected small-scale fuel cell systems with acceptably low operating temperatures. COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme 6 ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Scientific context and objectives (2/2) Objectives and methods: § The technologies will cover low T bioethanol reforming in H 2 selective membrane reactors and cleaning methods as well as their combinations with any type of low-temperature fuel cells (200390ºC) § Bioethanol driven fuel cells as an intermediate step towards glucose driven fuel cells. § Microreactors and catalytic membranes will be designed for e. g. reforming stage of the process chain. § Catalysts for bioethanol reformer operating at low T are developed, e. g. CNT-based catalysts. § H 2 selective membranes are to be studied to obtain a high H 2 gas purity with a good H 2 permeability § Theoretical and experimental research will focus on finding and optimizing appropriate operating pressures and temperatures for micro-reactors to achieve good H 2 yield with a good performance. § Cooperation between different disciplines and branches of science is needed: thermal & material engineering, catalyst & process technologies, nanotechnology, micro-reactor design, electro-chemistry and biophysics. Innovative work: • CNT-based selective catalytic membranes and catalysts as well as FC materials (prototype) • H 2 selective metallic membranes and hybrid solutions in reformers (membrane and catalyst) • Combining reformer and fuel cell; similarity with materials, purification steps, role of WGSR • New electrocatalysts for FCs, New energy conversion technologies in biological cells and COST is supported by ESF provides the 7 the EU RTD Framework Programme COST Office through an EC contract porous media

Working groups § § § WG 1: Hydrogen production from bioethanol (8) WG 2: Microreactor design (6) WG 3: Fuel gas processing (6) WG 4: Advanced direct bioethanol fuel cell (13) WG 5: The selected low temperature fuel cells(14) COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme 8 ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Results vs. Objectives Two new member countries have joint the Action (France, Greece) In WPs 1 -3: Membranes (+), catalytic membranes (+), microreactors, new catalysts (+) • • Metallic membranes made of a Pd-layer on an oxidized macroporous stainless steel support (for operation at 410°C and 10 bar) WGS) in Pd membrane reactor with a commercial Fe/Cr catalyst at a temperature of 410 -415° C successful (85. 0% of CO conversion) The steam reforming of glycerol is conducted in Pd-Ag MR using 0. 5 wt% Ru-based reforming catalysts; 5 wt% Ru needed CNT-based Ni and Co catalyst active in methanol and ethanol steam reforming to hydrogen In WPs 4 -5: • • Succesful testing the direct-mode biofuel cell with alkaline electrolyte. The fuels in scope: cellulose, starch, glucose and bioethanol. LT Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell (DEFC): mechansistic aspects of the process and development of catalysts with improved performance (less expensive electrocatalysts). Performance of Carbon nanofiber supported Pd- Ni catalysts for electro-oxidation of ethanol in alkaline medium and Pd/C electrocatalyst design for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline medium Understanding of the performance of Pt and electrodeposited metals on Pt and Glassy Carbon (GC) surfaces gained Novel electrocatalysts involving non-Pt metals. Updating the relevant information concerning to the fuel cell research and applications in Hungary and Finland Studying the possibilities of the use fuel cells in a photovoltaic solar hybrid systems. Extending the simulation model for fuel cell and vehicle energy management cooperation Doctoral theses: • COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the 9 COST Office through an EC contract Completion of Ph. D projects on Photo-assisted Electrochemical Fuel Cell (PEC) using a variety of organic

Training School in Oulu, May 4 -8, 2009 ‘Environmental Applications of Ti. O 2 Photocatalysis’ (1/2) ACTIVITIES: § COST Actions: 543 (Keiski), 540 (Peterka, Mäntylä) and P 19 (Alatalo) § Topics: Photocatalysis, preparation of photocatalysts (theory, materials, sustainability), Environmentally benign routes (e. g. photocatalytic, biochemical, chemical) and starting materials in green organic syntheses and H 2 production for e. g. fuel cells and photoreactors, Photocatalysis in water, wastewater and air purification, Photocatalysis in textile industry, self-cleaning applications, in controlling the fouling phenomena on surfaces, Modeling the photocatalytic phenomena and materials. § 16 lecturers from 9 COST countries and one (1) from non-COST country (internationally renowned speakers); 54 students from 11 COST countries (mostly Ph. D students) § 5+2 ECTS for post-graduate studies GOALS: § To enhance students’ communication skills, both in writing and presentation, their ability to work effectively in teams, and learning skills (learning portfolios). § To act as a discussion and meeting forum for early stage researchers (ESRs), doctors and professors of the research field and to enhance multidisciplinary approach and way of thinking. §To discuss the possibilities and to do brain-storming to submit a joint FP 7 proposal. ESRs are invited to plan proposals in teams. – planning has continued 10 §To enhance co-operation between different COST Actions (543, 540, P 19) – activities to COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Significant highlights (2/2) • 16 lecturers from 9 COST countries and one (1) from non. COST country – Internationally renowned speakers, helped with the planning of new project proposals • 54 students from 11 COST countries (mostly Ph. D students) – 23 foreign students, 7 outside Oulu, 24 from Oulu (international forum) • 5+2 ECTS for post-graduate studies – Lectures, discussions, learning portfolio, examination – Over half of the students made the learning portfolio – new way of learning and setting goals for learning Feedback from students: total remark 4. 2/5 • Pluses: overall organisation and composition of course goog/excellent; high level course, very educative lectures; material delivery in advance; new ideas were found; portfolio work new but it found good and helpful in learning; social programme was nice (dinner, concert) • ESF provides the 11 Minuses: lack of general lectures on the course (e. g. photocatalysis in general); lack of COST Office through an EC contract COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme

STSM Topic: Membrane Reactors for Hydrogen Production for PEMFC (1/2) ESR: M. Sc. (Eng. ) Prem Kumar Seelam , University of Oulu, Finland Host: Dr. Angelo Basile, ITM-CNR, Institute on Membrane Technology, Rende (IT) ESF COST STSM Reference Number: COST-STSM-543 -3639 Period: 19/01/2009 to 18/03/2009 Purpose of the visit § To learn, understand work with the membrane reactor (MR) system in the production of pure or CO-free hydrogen production for fuel cell applications § To gain knowledge on MR module (experimental and theoretical aspects) in hydrogen production via glycerol steam reforming in dense Pd-Ag MR. § To gain knowledge also on oxidative ethanol steam reforming in dense Pd-Ag MR; The major work done on glycerol steam reforming. § To gain knowledge on analyzing parameters influencing the performance of the MR in comparison with traditional reactors like fixed or packed bed reactors in steam reforming reaction. § To design and write joint publications. COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme 12 ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Significant highlights (2/2) § Plan to continue to research collaboration by exchanging ideas and knowledge on the development of catalytic materials and membrane reactors for hydrogen production, e. g. use of CNTs as a support material for perm-selective catalytic materials, use of catalytic membranes in microreactors. § Plan to built a membrane reactor to the home University of the ESR in cooperation with the host Institute of ESR. § Two (2) joint scientific publications for the Ph. D thesis (were submitted soon after the STSM). § International researcher education of the ESR: new networking, transferable skills (internationalization), ideas for experimental research. COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme 13 ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

The 6 th - 7 th Workshops of the COST Action 543, in Frascati, th - 10 th, 2009 and in Helsinki, Finland on Italy on March 9 May 25 th, 2009 (1/2) Frascati, Thematics: Bioethanol reforming: membranes development (modelling and experimental studies) Outcomes: § Membranes and membrane reactors: study of metal alloys with low Pd content or alternative to Pd ones for hydrogen separation, in order to reduce the cost of this technology and to cover a larger range of temperature. § Catalysts: investigation of different catalyst and different catalyst deposition techniques (nanomaterials) to improve the efficiency of the ethanol SR even at lower T, and to reduce the problems related to the catalyst poisoning. § PEMFC: investigation of some polymers (different from NAFION) able of operate at higher temperature. Helsinki, Thematics: Electro catalysis for bio organics, WPs 4 -5 Outcomes: § The state of the art of the electro catalysis of the bio organics (bio ethanol, glucose) and also of the H 2 gas: § Merits and dismerits of catalytic materials for low temperature fuel cells; Reaction mechanisms and kinetics in direct alcohol fuel cells; Direct Et. OH electrocatalysis in Acid COST is supported by ESF provides the 14 Electrolytes; Studies on the direct-mode bio fuel cell; Electrochemical combustion the EU RTD Framework Programme COST Office through an EC contract

Significant highlights (2/2) • Plans to continue to scientific work together by exchanging ideas and knowledge • Deeper scientific touch to the state-of-the-art of thematic areas in WPs 1 -3 and 4 -5 (to separate meetings) • Problems oriented approach in both meetings – this may lead to new ideas how to proceed in research • Newest scientific knowledge available from each participant and established researchers of the field • International researcher education of EST via STSMs become relevant and was discussed during both meetings • Ideas for two new TSs came relevant: Membrane Reactors (Italy in Spring 2010) and Advanced PEMFC (Germany in autumn 2010) • Design of a Special issue of the Journal of Hydrogen Energy (15 scientific papers from the COST Action 543 society) COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme 15 ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

• Deviations from the work plan Challenges – Some research groups have not been able to gain national or international funding to their research – active participation to Action activities is not possible via exchanging and dissemination of new scientific results – New areas: hydrogen production by e. g. photocatalysis from water and organic matter and aqueous phase reforming (APR) of e. g. biomass and agro-waste; Biological cells as energy conversion systems • Critical phases: – Success in two TSs; optimal impact to researcher education of ESRs – Success in the Editorial and Writing processes of the Special Issue; visibility and dissemination of scientific results – Joint applications to FP 7 and other international calls; further collaboration and networking, collaboration between scientists from different COST Actions, e. g. 543, 542, 540, P 19 – 4 STSMs; better networking of Action partners, life-long lasting networks and collaboration possible, better transferable skills (internationalizations) – Activation of industrial partners; science into products and processes, 16 better success in global marketing of products, more active members in COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract

Many Thanks! COST Action 543 Training School at the University of Oulu in May 4 -8, 2009 COST is supported by the EU RTD Framework Programme 17 ESF provides the COST Office through an EC contract