Research Team Led by Environmental Engineering Professor Roh Hyun-seog Develops Eco-Friendly Catalyst for High Temperature Water-Gas Shift Reaction

-Important Implications for Hydrogen Economy of the Future

Professor Roh Hyun-seog’s research team from Yonsei’s Department of Environmental Engineering has developed an environmentally friendly catalyst that exhibits stable activity in the high temperature water-gas shift reaction (WGSR).  The results of the research were published on November 7 in Chemical Communications (IF 6.378), under the title “A rationally designed CuFe2O4–mesoporous Al2O3 composite towards stable performance of high temperature water–gas shift reaction.” Supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning, the development of this honeycomb-like catalyst, a CuFe2O4–mesoporous alumina nanocomposite, is significant from both an environmental and economic perspective.  One of the principal drawbacks of the WGSR, in which carbon monoxide and water vapor react to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen, has been the necessity of using an iron-chromium oxide based catalyst for the reaction, as some chromium compounds are highly toxic.  Furthermore, the iron-chromium oxide based catalyst tends to be unstable in the WGSR, resulting in the loss of valuable hydrogen and thus higher operational costs for industry.  As such, this more stable and longer-lasting nano-architectured catalyst promises to play an important role in the continuing development of a hydrogen economy.  According to Professor Roh:  “This research has significance for the hydrogen economy of the future, as this stable and environmentally friendly catalyst can replace the traditional [iron-chromium oxide based] catalyst.  This technology should also play a part in further developing the catalyst industry in Korea.”