Purification of hydrogen from hydrocarbons by adsorption for vehicles application

• Published in: Separation and purification technology Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 25 - 37
• Main Authors: Swesi, Yousef, Kerleau, Philippe, Pitault, Isabelle, Heurtaux, Fabien, Ronze, Didier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2007; Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Adsorption; Applied sciences; Catalysis; Catalytic reactions; Chemical and Process Engineering; Chemical engineering; Chemical Sciences; Chemistry; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engineering Sciences; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; General and physical chemistry; Hydrogen; Porous polymers; Reactors; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Zeolite; Porous polymers; Zeolite; Adsorption; Hydrogen; Activated carbon; Catalytic reaction; Purification; Adsorption isotherm; Adsorption capacity; Desorption; Modeling; Storage; Dehydrogenation; Kinetics; Fuel cell
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2006.09.023

Adsorption of toluene and methylcyclohexane on various adsorbents was investigated to develop a process for the purification of hydrogen from H 2/hydrocarbons mixtures. The development of vehicles using hydrogen in a fuel cell requires the storage of this gas on board for instance as an hydrogenated aromatic hydrocarbon (toluene), hydrogen being recovered by catalytic dehydrogenation. This technique however implies a perfect separation of hydrogen and toluene. An experimental study leads to the choice of a suitable adsorbent: Porapak ®-Q, which gives together a good adsorption capacity (up to 0 .078   k g Tol   k g PQ − 1 ) and good regeneration properties (93% desorption in a given time). A representative model, including the Drachsel model of the adsorption isotherm and the thermal effects, is developed and emphasizes the lack of kinetic limitation.