Problems:
2
1 NSF CEAS REU PROJECT 1: Portable Device for Formaldehyde Detection and Removal in Direct Alcohol Fuel Cell Effluent Faculty Mentor: Anastasios P. Angelopoulos Graduate Assistant: Adam D. Worrall Introduction: Recent developments in highly active and durable catalysts for room-temperature alcohol electro-oxidation have made these fuels attractive replacements for hydrogen in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. Problems: 1) Incomplete oxidation of these materials can increase levels of toxic gases such as formaldehyde in the humidified effluent. In 2011, formaldehyde was recognized by the US National Toxicology Program as a human carcinogen. Human toxicity is presently believed to occur at formaldehyde exposures even as low as 2 ppm. 2) Existing methods for formaldehyde analysis involve the use of gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) instrumentation that is not sufficiently portable or cost-effective for integration into fuel cell stacks intended for automotive application. Objective: Develop portable, cost-effective method of formaldehyde emissions measurement in real time. Feng, L.; Musto, C.J.; Suslick, K. S. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 4046-4047 3) Recent developments on the use of optical sensing arrays are too cumbersome for incorporation into fuel cell stacks.
description
NSF CEAS REU PROJECT 1: Portable Device for Formaldehyde Detection and Removal in Direct Alcohol Fuel Cell Effluent Faculty Mentor: Anastasios P. Angelopoulos Graduate Assistant: Adam D. Worrall. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Problems:
1
NSF CEAS REU PROJECT 1: Portable Device for Formaldehyde Detection and Removal in Direct Alcohol Fuel Cell Effluent
Faculty Mentor: Anastasios P. Angelopoulos Graduate Assistant: Adam D. Worrall
Introduction: Recent developments in highly active and durable catalysts for room-temperature alcohol electro-oxidation have made these fuels attractive replacements for hydrogen in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.
Problems: 1) Incomplete oxidation of these materials can increase levels of toxic gases such as formaldehyde in the humidified effluent. In 2011, formaldehyde was recognized by the US National Toxicology Program as a human carcinogen. Human toxicity is presently believed to occur at formaldehyde exposures even as low as 2 ppm.
2) Existing methods for formaldehyde analysis involve the use of gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) instrumentation that is not sufficiently portable or cost-effective for integration into fuel cell stacks intended for automotive application.
Objective: Develop portable, cost-effective method of formaldehyde emissions measurement in real time.
Feng, L.; Musto, C.J.; Suslick, K. S. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132, 4046-4047
3) Recent developments on the use of optical sensing arrays are too cumbersome for incorporation into fuel cell stacks.
Approach: Use membrane catalyst sensing approach wherein a high degree of selectivity is achieved through organic synthesis while optical measurement provides ppb sensitivity..
Methods/Expected Outcomes: 1) Investigate mechanisms via which various membrane additives have been found to eliminate water interference.. 2) Learn to characterize and calibrate optical response of membranes to various organic agents using fiber-optic UV/Vis system..
1) Ayyadurai, S.; Worrall, A.D., Bernstein, J.A.; Angelopoulos, A.P. Anal. Chem. 2010,82, 6265. 2) Worrall, A.D.; Bernstein, J.A.; Angelopoulos, A.P. Talanta 2013, 112, 26.
CH2
OOH
OH2 n n
n
n OH2
OHOH
OH OHCH2
OOH
OH2 n n
n
n OH2
OHOH
OH OH
0 ppm 0.5 ppm 5 ppm 50 ppm 500 ppm0 ppm 0.5 ppm 5 ppm 50 ppm 500 ppm
3) Demonstrate ability of approach to quantify formaldehyde emissions from commercial fuel cell test stand..
