Preferential Oxidation of CO in H2 by Aqueous Polyoxometalates over Metal Catalysts

Stream cleaning: CO in CO/H2 mixtures is oxidized preferentially at room temperature with an aqueous polyoxometalate (POM) solution over gold catalysts (see scheme). The rate of H2 oxidation is slow and is inhibited by CO. This process can be used to remove CO efficiently from H2 gas streams. The solution containing protons and reduced POM can be used to produce electrical energy at a fuel-cell anode through re-oxidation of the reduced POM.