An integrated process for hydrogen production and separation WBS E.RDC.00010

The main objective of this proposal is the innovation of compact and sustainable technology for synthesis gas and H2 production based on catalytic catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) including integrated separation of H2. The research areas of the projec t have been divided into two groups, one consisting of activities related to development of new catalysts for dry and wet CPO, and the other dealing with development of new reactor concepts with integrated H2 absorbents. The main target within the cataly st development task is to verify if the presence of lattice oxygen has a possitive effect on activity and selectivity compared to surface oxygen. The main challenges on a short-term will include: - Identify promising materials that can be used for tuning the availability of O2 types. - Investigations of different O2 types and their availability to reactants. - Understand selectivity governing factors as a basis for innovation. - Catalyst stability at high temperatures. CPO allows for direct production o f synthesis gas in a mildly exothermal reaction. In order to obtain a higher H2 yield the process gas from the CPO reactor has to be shifted to H2 according to the water gas shift (WGS) reaction. The second task of this proposal consists of the developmen t of a reactor for WGS or conversion of bio-ethanol using as principle the integration with H2 absorbing materials. H2 is trapped by a solid material present in the reactor allowing higher conversion to H2 at relatively high temperatures. The main challe nges are: - Identification of H2 absorbents working at relevant temperatures and pressures. - Stability of the selected materials in environments rich in CO/CO2/H2O. - Optimization of the absorbents composition in order to enhanced the kinetics, stabilit y and cyclability. The objectives imply a significant improvement in synthesis gas and H2 production with respect to energy efficiency, costs, and favored CO2 capture.