Chemical Processing - December 2007 - (Page 13)

IN PROCESS >> developers at the University of Houston, Houston. The nanoparticle catalyst, which features a nearly pure platinum shell over a core made up of an alloy of cobalt, copper and platinum, speeds the reduction of oxygen, notes Peter Strasser, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the school. The increased activity versus pure platinum likely occurs because platinum in the new catalyst has a different geometric structure because of the base metal core, he explains. The catalyst is made by first depositing pure platinum on a porous carbon support. This then is alloyed with copper and cobalt and thermally annealed at 400°C. The resultant nanoparticles, which consist of 60% cobalt, 20% copper and 20% platinum, are applied to the fuel cell membrane and then subjected for Catalyst boosts fuel cell prospects a few minutes to a cyclic voltage that causes dealloying, creating the nearly pure platinum shell, as cobalt and A catalyst that boasts four to five times higher activ- copper selectively dissolve into the liquid. ity than pure platinum promises to significantly imSo far, the catalyst has been tested in a membrane prove the performance 12.11.2007 12:49 Uhr its Anzeige KSEA ca 178x124 of hydrogen fuel cells, say Seiteassembly replicating a fuel cell. Long-term stability is 1 the polymers are inexpensive and easily processed, plus not much material is needed and application is easy. Potential plant roles include to visibly warn personnel that process equipment or piping is at high temperature. In addition, the gel offers benefits for research, such as on large-area airfoils, to replace embedded sensors now used. The researchers also are working on a gel that changes color in response to applied voltages, which should be good for study of electrical fields, he says. “No ‘killer’ applications are obvious yet, though,” admits Thomas. The school is thinking of licensing the technology, and several companies already have approached the researchers. Overpressure protection for corrosive, permeating and high purity liquids, gases and vapors. Product benefits: • Reseats & shutoffs after operation, contrary to rupture disk protecting sacrificial safety relief valves • More economical and shorter lead times than exotic metal safety relief valves • High discharge coefficient for high flow capacities • Over 30 years of tested and proven safeguard • Sizes 1“/ 2“ to 4“/ 6“, ASME Class 150 RF flanges • Temperatures -20 to 360 °F Richter Inc. · 4060 Geigy Access Road, St. Gabriel 70776, Louisiana · Tel.: + 1 225 - 6 42 - 88 25 richter-inc@richter-ct.com · www.richter-ct.com www.chemicalprocessing.com December 2007 • 13 KSEA PFA/PTFE lined ASME Section VIII Certified http://www.richter-ct.com http://www.richter-ct.com http://www.chemicalprocessing.com

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Chemical Processing - December 2007 Contents From the Editor ChemicalProcessing.com Field Notes In Process Energy Saver Compliance Advisor 2007 Vaaler Award - The Quest Ends Take Equipment Diagnostics to a New Level Better Bellows Boosts Blending Process Puzzler Plant InSites Equipment & Services Product Spotlight/Classifieds Ad Index End Point

Chemical Processing - December 2007

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