Enhanced hydrogen production from thermochemical processes

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

This paper reviews the advances of enhanced thermo-chemical processes applying H ₂-selective membrane reactors and in situ CO ₂ capture for selective H ₂ production.

Abstract

To alleviate the pressing problem of greenhouse gas emissions, the development and deployment of sustainable energy technologies is necessary. One potentially viable approach for replacing fossil fuels is the development of a H ₂ economy. Not only can H ₂ be used to produce heat and electricity, it is also utilised in ammonia synthesis and hydrocracking. H ₂ is traditionally generated from thermochemical processes such as steam reforming of hydrocarbons and the water-gas-shift (WGS) reaction. However, these processes suffer from low H ₂ yields owing to their reversible nature. Removing H ₂ with membranes and/or extracting CO ₂ with solid sorbents in situ can overcome these issues by shifting the component equilibrium towards enhanced H ₂ production via Le Chatelier's principle. This can potentially result in reduced energy consumption, smaller reactor sizes and, therefore, lower capital costs. In light of this, a significant amount of work has been conducted over the past few decades to refine these processes through the development of novel materials and complex models. Here, we critically review the most recent developments in these studies, identify possible research gaps, and offer recommendations for future research.

Related collections

Most cited references 372

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Metal-organic framework membranes: from synthesis to separation application.

Ming Xue, Shilun Qiu, Guangshan Zhu (2014)

Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, which are constructed from metal ions or metal ion clusters and bridging organic linkers, exhibit regular crystalline lattices with relatively well-defined pore structures and interesting properties. As a new class of porous solid materials, MOFs are attractive for a variety of industrial applications including separation membranes - a rapidly developing research area. Many reports have discussed the synthesis and applications of MOFs and MOF thin films, but relatively few have addressed MOF membranes. This critical review provides an overview of the diverse MOF membranes that have been prepared, beginning with a brief introduction to the current techniques for the fabrication of MOF membranes. Gas and liquid separation applications with different MOF membranes are also included (175 references).