title: Iron ochre - a pre-catalyst for the cracking of methane.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron ochres are gelatinous sludges that can cause problems in terms of water management. In this work, the application of iron ochre obtained from a river has been applied to catalytically crack methane - another potential waste product - into two useful products, hydrogen and a magnetic carbon-containing composite.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the iron ochre was found to be consistent with the expected 2-line ferrihydrite, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed Fe to be a major component although some Si and Ca were present. The sample was observed to contain a fraction with a tubular morphology consistent with the presence of extra-cellular biogenic iron oxide formed byleptothrix. Upon exposure to methane at elevated temperatures, the material was found to transform into an active catalyst for hydrogen production yielding a magnetic carbon-containing composite material comprising filamentous carbon and encapsulating graphite.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of two waste products - iron ochre and methane - to generate two useful products - hydrogen and a magnetic carbon-containing composite - has been demonstrated. Furthermore, the ochre has been shown to comprise tubular morphology extra-cellular biogenic iron oxide which may be of interest in terms of other applications. © 2014 The Authors.Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnologypublished by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Abdulrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alharthi
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Purdie Building, University of St Andrews St Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK.
authors.forename: Ross A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Blackley
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: T Hugh
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Flowers
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Justin S J
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Pulford
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wigzell
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Purdie Building, University of St Andrews St Andrews, KY16 9ST, UK.
authors.forename: Wuzong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
keywords: biogenic iron oxide; carbon; hydrogen; iron ochre; leptothrix