Dr. Jin An Wang from ESIQIE has obtained 11 patents for the generation of clean fuels, particularly in improving the quality of gasoline and diesel for Pemex
Enrique Soto
Generating renewable green hydrogen through water electrolysis and photocatalysis represents a viable alternative to ensuring a sustainable energy future for the planet. This significant challenge has engaged the international scientific community, and it is the focus of research by Dr. Jin An Wang, a scientist at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN). Over recent years, Dr. Wang has secured multiple patents for the generation of clean fuels through catalytic techniques.
Known as Professor Wang to the community at the Escuela Superior de Ingeniería Química e Industrias Extractivas (ESIQIE), he has dedicated his efforts since joining the IPN 26 years ago to producing hydrogen from natural gas, electrolysis, and water photocatalysis. Additionally, he has worked on reducing sulfur content in fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel to lessen carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
For Dr. Wang, originally from Henan Province, China, Mexico must focus on generating petroleum-derived products, as abruptly abandoning hydrocarbons as fuels is not feasible. Indeed, the United States government plans to cease the consumption of fossil fuels by 2030.
For Dr. Wang, originally from Henan Province, China, Mexico must focus on generating petroleum-derived products, as abruptly abandoning hydrocarbons as fuels is not feasible. Indeed, the United States government plans to cease the consumption of fossil fuels by 2030.
Dr. Wang emphasized that Mexico must develop new technologies through catalytic techniques to produce hydrogen and avoid falling behind internationally, as other nations move towards clean energy and fuels. He explained that there are three types of fuels: solid (coal and coke), liquid (hydrocarbons, biofuels, methanol, and ethanol), and gaseous (hydrogen and natural gas such as methane, ethane, and propane). While solid fuel use has nearly ceased in cities, it remains prevalent in provinces. "Some countries still use solid fuels for electricity generation, which produces large volumes of CO2, impacting global temperatures and accelerating climate change," he noted.
Dr. Wang, who is the author or co-author of 152 scientific publications and 52 extensive articles with 4,700 citations, has obtained 11 patents, including those for improving the quality of gasoline and diesel at Pemex. He has developed new catalysts for oxidative desulfurization, reducing sulfur content in gasoline and diesel to less than 15 parts per million (ppm).
He has also secured two patents for hydrogen production from natural gas decomposition using various catalysts and processes (Patents No. 343808 and No. 289969).
The scientist, who holds Level III in the National System of Researchers (SNII) of the National Council of Humanities, Sciences and Technologies (Conahcyt), emphasized that hydrogen is generated by various sources and depending on its production, there are several types of hydrogen marked with different colors.
He said that green hydrogen is in vogue around the world because of its sustainable character, through the electrolysis of water; blue hydrogen is produced by natural gas, but the carbon dioxide (CO2) generated is captured, and gray hydrogen is produced from natural gas without capturing the greenhouse gases produced during the process, and this method represents the majority of hydrogen production in the world today.
In reality," he said, "green hydrogen is at the frontier of scientific research and is a bid to reduce dependence on hydrocarbon fuels and decarbonize the planet.
Currently, Dr. Wang and his research group are focused on the work of catalysis through electrochemical processes (in collaboration with the IPN scientist, Dr. Arturo Manzo Robledo), and photocatalysis with semiconductors under visible or ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation for the production of green hydrogen.
Professor Wang also collaborates with the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai to create new routes for the application of petroleum in the petrochemical industries.
Dr. Wang stressed that Mexico should deepen the development of catalytic techniques for clean fuel production and concentrate scientific efforts on obtaining green hydrogen as a future alternative, aiming to provide sustainable energy for future generations.
“Scientists face a significant challenge: improving electric batteries for transportation and making hydrogen fuel cells a long-term solution, in addition to developing cleaner fuels and exploring new research avenues to convert petroleum into products beneficial to society, beyond gasoline and diesel production,” he concluded.
Professor Wang also collaborates with the East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai to create new routes for applying petroleum in petrochemical industries.
Selección Gaceta Politécnica #174. (May 31st, 2024). IPN Imagen Institucional: Read the full magazine in Spanish here.
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