College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2025-04-26 12:10:39
Major
Chemical Engineering
Honors Course
CHEE 497
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2025
Abstract
The proposed research develops and studies catalytic chemical processes that enables using polystyrene (PS) plastic waste as solid “organic hydrogen carriers” (OHC). Demands for OHCs are driven by desire to alleviate climate change, by replacing carbon-based energy sources with hydrogen. However, hydrogen is highly flammable and difficult to store and transport so OHCs are needed to facilitate its transportation. Common OHCs are liquid petroleum chemicals with unsaturated chemical structures. They can be hydrogenated to store hydrogen and dehydronated to release hydrogen at desired application sites. The proposed research aims to investigate the following cycle: hydrogen storage by hydrogenation of PS to poly(vinyl-cyclohexane) (PVCH) over cheap, sustainable nickel-based (Ni) catalysts, transportation as a solid, then on-site dehydrogenation back to PS. The motivations for this work not only come from a desire to use OHCs to reduce the impact of plastic waste on climate change, but also for the desire and need to reduce plastic waste. If this research is successful, polystyrene waste from plastics will be repurposed. Repurposing this waste reduces landfill waste, pollution, and the need to purchase new materials, which consequently saves costs. As polystyrene is a solid, it also allows for cheaper and safer transportation than the liquid OHC alternatives.
Research Sponsor
Linxiao Chen
First Reader
Roya Gitiafroz
Second Reader
Bi-min Newby
Honors Faculty Advisor
Donald Visco
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Bachmann, Alaina, "Polystyrene Plastic Waste as an Organic Hydrogen Carrier" (2025). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1967.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1967