1. Jenna Simandl, Civil Engineering, University of Alabama Cuong Diep, Chemical Engineering, University of Cincinnati Sidney Stacy, Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati 1 Formaldehyde Detection and Removal in Direct Alcohol Fuel Cell Effluent NSF Grant ID No:DUE-0756921

2. Introduction 2 Formaldehyde and alcohol fuel cells Effluent and efficiency loss Acetone - surrogate http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039914 013002014 http://www.machine- history.com/Direct%20Methanol%20Fuel%20Cell

3. Optical Sensing 3 Spectroscopy and Perfluorosulfonic acid (PSA) membrane http://www.chem.agilent.com/en-US/products-services/instruments- systems/molecular-spectroscopy/8453-uv-vis-diode-array- system/Pages/photodiode_array_benefits.aspx http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/polb.21639/full

4. Water Interference 4 A membrane additive has been selected to potentially mitigate water interference http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/polb.21639/full

5. Reactions 5 Acetone Reaction Scheme Formaldehyde Reaction Scheme http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pi i/S0039914013002014 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01139044

6. Goals 6 Determine if the membrane additive mitigates water interference for acetone Determine how the membrane additive is functioning Apply feasibility testing to the detection of formaldehyde in 100% relative humidity Develop a calibration of the membrane catalyst to formaldehyde concentrations Test direct alcohol fuel cell effluent for formaldehyde

7. Methods 7

8. 8

9. Results- 4ppmv Acetone Exposure in 100% Relative Humidity 9 How come? With additive No additive

10. 10 Results- 4ppmv Acetone and Cesium Exposure with Additive 5mM Cs 10mM Cs 50mM Cs 5mM Cs, no additive

11. Results- Initial 500 ppmv Formaldehyde Exposure in 100% Relative Humidity 11 With additive No additive

12. Results- Formaldehyde Exposure 12 Calibration Points 100 ppmv 50 ppmv 0 ppmv

13. Results- Calibration Curve 13

14. Results- Shifted Sensitivity 14

15. Conclusions And Future Work 15 The membrane additive is successful at mitigating water interference We are able to detect acetone and formaldehyde in the presence of water The detection method is very sensitive within a small dynamic range, that can be tailored by varying the resorcinol concentration Apply similar approach to water abundant environment of an alcohol fuel cell effluent to determine formaldehyde concentrations

16. Questions? 16