The poisoning effect of CO and CO2 in the H2 flux permeating through a palla-dium-based membrane

PATRICIA PÉREZ; CAROLINA A. CORNAGLIA; A. MENDES; L.M.MADEIRA; SILVANO TOSTI

Porto

Conferencia; 11th International Conference on Catalysis in Membrane Reactors; 2013

Due to the energy crisis of the fossil fuels, the greenhouse gases effect and the increasing demand for energy, it is becoming more evident the need for new energy resources and the use of different, more efficient and cleaner devices. In this perspective the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier is a tempting target because the combustion of this gas is completely clean, without pollutants release. Pure hydrogen does not exist naturally on Earth but, there are several methods to obtain it, like steam reforming, among others. Hydrogen can be produced using several raw materials: fossil fuels (such as coal, coke, oil/naphtha and natural gas, preferentially with CO2 sequestration), biomass, and other renewable sources, etc. The use of the Pd-membranes combining H2 production and a H2-selective membrane has gained substantial importance. In thermodynamic limited reversible reactions, membrane reactors can be used to overcome the equilibrium conversion based on feed conditions. Pure hydrogen can be used as carrier fuel in hydrogen fuel cells that can offer great potential due to their higher energy conversion efficiency and zero emissions. Pd-membranes are also used to separate hydrogen isotopes for application to fusion reactors. A Pd-membrane was studied in several conditions to determine the influence of some poisoning gases (CO and CO2) in the H2-permeate flux.