Using natural resources and agricultural waste is one of the most promising fields in clean energy research. A research team from the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has developed a green catalyst for hydrogen production by combining desert sand, biochar derived from date pits, and nickel. The innovation transforms abundant local resources and agricultural waste into a high-value material with potential applications in hydrogen production and clean energy.

The study builds on research exploring the use of desert sand, a widely available natural resource, as a support material for catalysts. Researchers investigated how desert sand could be transformed from a material with limited catalytic activity into a supportive base capable of enhancing chemical reactions. To achieve this, the team tested 30 different formulations to identify the optimal balance among the catalyst's components.

The results showed that the addition of biochar improved the dispersion of nickel across the surface of the sand and reduced its tendency to agglomerate. It also increased the material's porosity and surface area, providing more active sites for chemical reactions and enhancing the catalyst's overall performance.

The team identified an optimal formulation consisting of 15% nickel, 42.5% desert sand, and 42.5% biochar. This formulation demonstrated a high hydrogen adsorption capacity and good nickel dispersion, along with a significant increase in surface area compared with a catalyst based solely on sand and nickel.

Initial tests demonstrated the effectiveness of the developed catalyst in methane decomposition for hydrogen production, achieving a methane conversion rate of 38% at temperatures between 500 and 600°C. These findings provide initial scientific evidence of the material's potential to support hydrogen production processes. Further studies are required to evaluate its long-term stability, durability, and efficiency.

The study was published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, an international scientific journal published by Elsevier. It was conducted by researchers from the Departments of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and Chemistry at UAEU, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, and was supported by the University's Research Funding Program.

This innovation brings together clean energy and the principles of the circular economy by reusing date pits, which are considered agricultural and food waste, while taking advantage of abundant desert sand to produce advanced materials with scientific value. It also opens opportunities for investigating other formulations that use different minerals and natural resources to develop more sustainable catalysts that are less dependent on expensive materials.

The next phase of the research will focus on testing the catalyst's ability to maintain its performance over longer operating periods, studying its reusability, and evaluating its behavior under different operating conditions. These tests will help determine its suitability for potential scientific and practical applications in hydrogen production and clean energy.