New green technology for hydrogen production
Researcher Mohamed Halabi of Eindhoven University of Technology demonstrates a proof-of-concept for a new and clean technology to produce high purity hydrogen from natural gas. This allows hydrogen to be produced in an elegant technique at much lower temperatures, and without releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. Halabi received his doctorate on Monday, 9 May 2011.
Hydrogen is a valuable feedstock for the petrochemical industry and it may play a big role in the energy supply of the future, as a green, non-polluting, and efficient energy carrier. If it is burnt, only water is formed. However, the conventional technology for hydrogen production from natural gas ('steam reforming') is a highly energy intensive process, operated at high pressures (up to 25 bar) and high temperature (850 degrees Celsius), with multistage subsequent separation and purification units. Moreover, huge amounts of CO2 have to be handled in post-processing steps.
TU/e has now developed a new and improved technology called “sorption enhanced catalytic reforming of methane,” using novel catalyst/sorbent materials. Halabi, working in collaboration with the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), has demonstrated the feasibility of producing hydrogen through such a process at much lower temperatures (400 to 500 degrees Celsius).
The process is performed in a packed bed reactor using a Rhodium-based catalyst and a Hydrotalcite-based sorbent as a new system of materials. Hydrogen is produced on the active catalyst and the cogenerated CO2 is effectively adsorbed on the sorbent, hence preventing any CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.
Halabi: “Direct production of high purity hydrogen and fuel conversion greater than 99.5% is experimentally achieved at low temperature range of (400 – 500 degrees Celsius) and at a pressure of 4.5 bar with a low level of carbon oxides impurities: less than 100 ppm.” The enormous reduction of the reactor size, material loading, catalyst/sorbent ratio, and energy requirements are beneficial key factors for the success of the concept over the conventional technologies. Small size hydrogen generation plants for residential or industrial application operated at a relatively low pressure, of less than 4.5 bar, seem to be feasible.
Other news from the department science
Get the chemical industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for the chemical industry, analytics, lab technology and process engineering brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.
