A new process that employs a ruthenium trichloride catalyst to produce pure hydrogen at low temperatures for use in fuel cells has been patented by a chemist working for the US Department of Energy at its Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Prof. Devinder Mahajan developed the process, which should help overcome one of the major barriers preventing the commercial application of efficient and affordable fuel cells. 

In a Brookhaven National Laboratory press release, Prof. Mahajan stated, 'The commercial viability of fuel cells for power generation depends upon solving a number of manufacturing, cost, and durability issues. Finding a simple, inexpensive method of producing hydrogen that is essentially free of carbon monoxide would help address many of those issues.'

Even low levels of carbon monoxide (CO) are capable of 'poisoning' fuel cells.

However, Prof. Mahajan's new process uses a ruthenium trichloride catalyst, which is mixed with a nitrogen complex to form a homogenous solution in a methanol and water mixture.

At relatively low temperatures (between 80-150°C), this catalyst is mixed with CO which is nearly all converted into carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

'It's quite an economical reaction, and it happens very quickly, in just a few seconds,' explained Prof. Mahajan.

'The process works with impure hydrogen produced by any method, including coal and biomass, and can be easily scaled up for more substantial production.'

The resulting hydrogen contains very low levels of CO and is at the correct temperature to be fed directly into a fuel cell.