Scientists at the University of Nottingham have devised a process for continuous hydrogenation reactions which avoids the problems of handling pressurised gases.

By producing supercritical carbon dioxide and hydrogen at the same time, the chemists say they are able to negate the need for high-pressure gas cylinders.

The process uses liquid formic acid, HCO₂H, which is decomposed over a heated platinum or palladium catalyst at 450ºC in a miniature reactor to produce hydrogen and supercritical carbon dioxide are produced.

These products are then mixed with the material to be hydrogenated, and then passed over a noble-metal catalyst in a second reactor.

Chemistry professor Martyn Poliakoff, who developed the process with Dr. Jason R. Hyde, told Chemical and Engineering News that the procedure was a simple and effective method.

"The gasless equipment is simple to use and eliminates the need for high-pressure gas cylinders," he commented.

Hyde and Poliakoff say the technique also opens up possibilities for carrying out other supercritical fluid reactions, such as acid-catalyzed Friedel-Craft alkylations.

Now the pair are in talks with HEL, a producer of research-scale automated equipment, with a commercial launch anticipated next month.

"Our gasless technology unit eliminates the need to store, meter, and control gases," explained HEL managing director Jasbir Singh."