UAE Researchers Develop Desert Sand Catalyst for Hydrogen Production
Researchers at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) have developed a novel catalyst for hydrogen production, utilizing abundant local resources: desert sand and biochar made from date pits, combined with nickel. This innovative material was tested in methane decomposition, achieving a methane conversion rate of 38% at temperatures between 500°C and 600°C. The research, published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, involved scientists from UAEU’s Departments of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and Chemistry, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Polytechnic. The team experimented with 30 different formulations, identifying an optimal blend consisting of 15% nickel, 42.5% desert sand, and 42.5% biochar. The biochar plays a crucial role by evenly distributing nickel particles across the sand, preventing clumping, and enhancing the material’s porosity and surface area, thereby creating more active sites for chemical reactions. This development offers a promising pathway for lower-cost hydrogen production. 
