Hydrogen production via ammonia reforming over ni-based catalysts in a microchannel reactor

• Grant number: 23/08594-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Rubens Maciel Filho
• Grantee: Letícia Maria Sampaio Barros
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/20630-4 - Biorefinery development integrated to a bioethanol sugar cane plant with zero CO2 emission: routes to convert renewable resources to bio-products and bio-electricity, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/20037-0 - Evaluation of Hydrogen Production in Microreactors via Ammonia Reforming on Bimetallic Catalysts, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Hydrogen (H2) production is a trending topic, undergoing a boom in research and development (R&D) and the perspectives are to continue growing due to its promising role in the energy transition. The current H2 generation is mainly based on fossil fuels, however, this route contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases. On the other hand, the production of green H2 through water electrolysis is still expensive, requiring high electricity consumption and its use for mobility requires storage at high pressure, increasing even more its final cost. In this aspect, a more economic and achievable route for H2 generation is the reforming of biofuels or free-carbon hydrogen carriers, especially on board for transport applications. Ammonia (NH3) is one of the chemicals most produced worldwide, being a very important carrier with almost 18% of H2 by weight, and without carbon in its composition, being able to produce COx-free H2. Besides, NH3 offers advantages in terms of transportation due to its superior energy density by volume compared to H2. This makes it a viable option to be used for on-site generation of H2, requiring less costs with storage and transportation. However, ammonia gas is toxic to humans, and its manipulation could be challenging. So, to mitigate this risk, one approach is to use a solution of ammonia with water, ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), which could be an interesting way to minimize these hazards. While ammonia cracking is commonly performed in fixed-bed and fluidized-bed reactors, the use of microreactors is still underexplored, and have several advantages, including the compact size, reduced manufacturing costs, and the possibility for on-board utilization combined with fuel cells. Moreover, microreactors based on microchannels have a high surface area, which contributes to a better conversion efficiency and high H2 yields. Therefore, this project proposes the reforming of ammonia and ammonium hydroxide for efficient H2 production using a microchannel reactor. There is no literature report of NH4OH reforming in microreactors, so this is a scientific novelty. A complete study involving the combination of simulation and experimental approaches will be performed to determine the thermodynamic models, reaction kinetics, and the optimal operating parameters. Through 3-D printing manufacturing, microchannel reactors will be built and impregnated with Ni-based catalysts for experimental tests. Additionally, advanced in situ characterization techniques will be employed for the better understanding of catalysts behaviour during the reforming reactions. Within this study, it will be provided very interesting data to the scientific community with potential to become a technology transferred to industries. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SANTOS, ERICK A.; BARROS, LETICIA M. S.; PELUSO, ANNA F. DE F. V.; GALANTINI, ISABELA; GONCALVES, JOSUE M.; MACIEL FILHO, RUBENS MACIEL; ZANIN, HUDSON. Trends in ionic liquids and quasi-solid-state electrolytes for Li-S batteries: A review on recent progress and future perspectives. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, v. 493, p. 26-pg., 2024-06-01. (21/09387-1, 17/11986-5, 22/02222-0, 23/08594-9)