CAPHENIA’s Post

Next up at the Center for Hydrogen Safety Americas Conference: On Wednesday, May 22, Colin D Armstrong, Group Leader & Principal Engineer, Quantitative Risk Services, will present AcuTech’s current work on a QRA study of a commercial PEM electrolyzer for hydrogen production, covering challenges posed by hydrogen releases in production units. Wednesday, May 22 at 12:05pm: Facility Siting and Risk Analysis of a PEM Electrolyzer The study includes considerations such as incorporating the latest release frequency data for hydrogen applications, determining realistic consequences based on concentration criteria, estimating the probability of ignition, and accounting for sensor-based detection and isolation, among other factors. #HydrogenSafety #Hydrogen #QuantitativeRiskAssessment #FacilitySiting

Happy to share our latest work published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, titled "Novel Ni–Ru/CeO2 catalysts for low-temperature steam reforming of methane". Abstract Upgrading of #biogas and #biomethane into #H2-rich streams by #steam_reforming is regarded as an effective strategy to reduce fossil fuel consumption contributing to the transition towards a #green_energy system. In this context, novel reactor configurations such as #membrane_reactors appear a promising route for #process_intensification, but they require novel catalysts more active at low temperatures, stable, and resistant to coke formation. In this work, we prepared and tested structured catalysts characterized by a low Ni content (7 wt%) and a very low Ru content (≤1 wt%) supported on ceria and deposed onto SiC monoliths. Catalysts were tested at low temperatures (<600 °C), i.e. at temperatures suitable for applications in Pd-based membrane reactors. Fresh and used catalysts were characterized by ICP-MS, N2 physisorption, XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS, XPS and H2-TPR to identify the physicochemical properties affecting the catalytic activity. The catalysts showed good activity towards methane reforming, stable performance, and good resistance to coke formation. Ruthenium affects both the intrinsic catalytic activity and the resistance to the inhibiting effect of steam on the reaction rate. This is related to improved redox properties due to the intimacy between the active metals and their strong-metal-support-interaction with the ceria. Finally, our catalysts show self-activation under reaction conditions, which is an interesting property for applications. This is a joint work between CNR-STEMS and CNR ITAE, co-authored by Giovanna Ruoppolo, Almerinda Di Benedetto, Antonio Vita, Cristina Italiano, MINJU THOMAS, Giulia Sorbino, and myself and funded within the framework of PLUG-IN Project. Available here (open access): https://lnkd.in/d4P9TY3e

👩🏼🔬 From Batch to Flow! I am looking forward to present my latest work on Electrolysis of Biomass (ELOBIO) next week on the session F05-2190 of the #PRiME2024 conference. This will be another great opportunity to catch up with both familiar and new researchers in my scientific field. Happy to see you there! Abstract: https://lnkd.in/exn35Wwk #electrochemistry #electrosynthesis Fraunhofer ICT ECS - The Electrochemical Society

Discover our latest application note discussing reductive hydroformylations as described by Vorholt’s group (S. Püschel, S. Störtte, J. Topphoff, A. J. Vorholt, W. Leitner, ChemSusChem, 2021, 14, 5226.) In this work, a batch protocol was developed for hydroformylation of terminal olefins, followed by a continuous flow heterogeneous hydrogenation step in ThalesNano’s H-Cube Pro flow reactor. This instrument features on-demand hydrogen generation and pre-loaded catalyst columns equipped with filters, eliminating many inconveniences compared to traditional batch techniques, such as hydrogen storage and catalyst filtration during work-up. Read the Application Note directly from our website here: https://lnkd.in/d3HpqbHS #FlowChemistry #Hydroformylation #ThalesNano

🔬Pyrolysis, though a complex phenomenon, essentially involves dehydrogenation and C-C bond rupture in organic radicals. Both of these reactions are endothermic, meaning heat must be supplied to sustain them. At elevated temperatures, hydrocarbons become unstable, decomposing into hydrogen, methane, olefins, and aromatics. To make this heat-intensive process more efficient, one option is to use catalysts such as nickel. These catalysts lower the activation energy required, allowing pyrolysis to occur at lower temperatures or with higher reaction rates. Additionally, catalysts enhance the selectivity of the process towards specific products. However, maintaining high CONVERSION RATE over time is challenging due to carbon deposition on reactor surfaces, which reduces the active sites on the catalysts. The pyrolysis of methane to produce hydrogen, known as turquoise hydrogen, is gaining significant attention. This is evidenced by the growing interest and investment recorded in the International Energy Agency (IEA) database. To achieve net-zero emissions, innovative technologies like microwave-driven methane pyrolysis or thermal plasma pyrolysis are being explored to provide the necessary heat instead of using combustion. The question remains: How successful have these new technologies been? #HydrogenEconomy #Pyrolysis #Catalysis #SustainableEnergy #Innovation #CleanEnergy #NetZero #TurquoiseHydrogen #ProcessEngineering

The study identifies that a #microwave frequency of 4225 MHz optimizes #methane #pyrolysis over #biochar, achieving a 90.7% conversion rate. Alternating frequencies can regenerate deactivated biochar, maintaining high efficiency and transforming spent biochar into an effective electromagnetic shielding material. https://lnkd.in/gF6CJbJ7

In water electrolysis, gaseous hydrogen and oxygen are produced from liquid water at electrodes in the form of micro and nano-sized bubbles. These bubbles accumulate on the electrode surface and reduce energy efficiency by increasing the electrical contact resistance between the electrode and the electrolyte. Commercial electrolyzers use a Porous Transport Layer (PTL) or Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL), a thin hydrophobic conductive mesh, that allows for the evolved gas to escape without forming large bubbles. However, smaller nano-sized bubbles may still accumulate on the electrode. Researchers are exploring techniques to reduce this efficiency loss. One such technique generates high-frequency sound waves in the electrolyte to detach bubbles from electrodes. Another technique involves enabling unlimited bubble growth by providing power above a threshold current density, causing the bubbles to eventually detach due to buoyancy. The techniques mentioned are still in the concept validation stage in laboratories (TRL 2-3), but they show potential to improve the energy efficiency of not only green hydrogen production but also other industrial processes involving electrolysis, such as aluminum smelting, sodium chlorate, and chlor-alkali production. #SiemensEnergy #Thyssenkrupp #nelhydrogen #Cummins #ITMPower #Linde #BASF #McPhy #Iberdrola #Engie #Chevron #Shell #TotalEnergies #Fortescue #PlugPower #hydrogeneconomy #greenhydrogen #electrolysis #FutureBridge

Why is electro- and photocatalytic NH3 synthesis such a research struggle? #ASAPpaper of the day: "Benchmarking photocatalysts for dinitrogen photoreduction reaction" by Andrew Medford and Marta Matzell from Georgia Tech. Using direct sunlight or renewable electricity to produce ammonia—a key chemical in our society—often feels like a pipe dream. A lot of research is moving in this direction, but when you dive into the field, you're met with a major obstacle: the production of only tiny quantities of NH3. Determining whether your catalyst actually synthesized these small amounts from N2 and H2 is incredibly difficult. There are many potential sources of ammonia contamination that can skew your results. Ammonia is present in your breath, in N-containing compounds in solvents, and even in reactor materials and the catalyst itself. It’s everywhere! Because of this, much of the reported NH3 activity might actually stem from these contamination sources rather than genuine N2-based NH3 synthesis. The work by Andrew Medford and Marta Matzell is a step in the right direction. However, if we truly want to establish benchmarks within the research community, we need access to standardized equipment. Perhaps sharing reactor designs could help more research groups achieve consistency? Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/dt7Zs7Fc #Science #NH3 #Catalysis #Ammonia

HYDROGEN 🍃: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and NGK INSULATORS are jointly developing a hydrogen purification system that uses membrane separation to purify hydrogen from hydrogen-nitrogen mixture gas after ammonia cracking. The companies expect the technology to contribute to the establishment of a hydrogen and ammonia supply chain enabling high-volume transport of hydrogen. MHI will contribute its expertise delivering ammonia plants and other chemical plants, and its technologies for handling ammonia and hydrogen. NGK will contribute its knowledge of subnano ceramic membrane technology and unique film deposition technology developed in the fields of chemical processes and water purification. 👉 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eFWiERiX #hydrogen #hydrogenpurification #membraneseparation #ammonia #ammoniacracking #hydrogensupplychain

I'm glad to share our recent publication in the "𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 & 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀" Journal.🔋 The paper is titled "Cobalt Promotion and Ni+Co Loading Effects of γ-Al2O3 Supported Ni-Co Catalysts for the Flue Gas Reforming of Methane." 📑 To read the full paper, you can click on the link below.👇 First 50 e-prints of published article are free❗ DOI Link 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gsquUTrH 📌 The catalytic conversion of industrial flue gas, containing CO2, into Hydrogen and Syngas by co-feeding CH4 is an effective technique for combating climate change while meeting the growing energy demands. In this study, we synthesized a series of active Ni3Co-Al2O3 catalysts to examine the effect of: (i) substituting Ni with Co on the catalytic performance of the Ni-Al2O3 catalyst, and (ii) the total metal (Ni+Co) amount on the catalytic activity of Ni3Co-Al for the flue gas reforming of methane (FGRM) reaction at 600°C. Upon investigation, high CO2 conversions and H2 yields with minimal catalyst deactivation were achieved for the 10 wt% Ni3Co-Al2O3 catalyst for FGRM at relatively low temperatures.   #ACSJournal #researchpaper #publication #chemicalengineering #catalysis