Novel Catalytic Membrane Micro-reactors for CO2 Capture via Pre-combustion Decarbonisation Route
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Chemical Engineering
Abstract
Innovative solutions are required to develop new systems for CO2 capture. Here, we propose to develop a novel catalytic membrane micro-reactor for capture of CO2 and at the same time producing ultrapure hydrogen at low temperatures from fossil fuel such as methane (or coal/biomass). This involves a combination of several advanced catalysts and membrane technologies recently developed by us. The novel membrane to be developed consists of Al2O3 in the form of an asymmetric hollow fibre support onto which a series of modified-Ni (Fe,Cu), Ru or Rh catalysts will be deposited with a Pd or Pd-Ag alloy membrane coated onto the opposite side. Such an approach of fabricating an oxide support with active metal catalysts and a hydrogen separation layer for a combined function of reforming of fossil fuel and CO2 capture has not been attempted to date. The major advantage of this novel membrane micro-reactor is that, due to the low operating temperature and highly selective permeation of H2, high methane conversions can be achieved without catalyst deactivation enabling long term stability of the catalysts. The work will involve a highly multi-disciplinary effort with world-leading groups from UK and China to examine a number of key challenges mentioned above The proposal is distinctive in that the PDRAs and PhD student employed on the grant will travel to collaborating institutions for extended training in catalysis, membranes, modelling and system integration which will strengthen our research capability and increase the employability of the employed researchers.
Planned Impact
Reactors and separators are widely used in chemical, food, pharmaceutical industries. The proposed programme intended to combine these two processes into one unit would greatly increase the process efficiencies and could have an enormous impact on the areas such as energy, membrane, material processing and catalyst industries. The energy industry will gain directly from the results of the project as they need access to a range of CCS technologies. They also employ SMR/WGS reactions. More broadly, the research will be of generic interest to all chemical manufacturers interested in CO2 capture and the production of hydrogen. Commercial exploitation of the results of this project may create an opportunity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) providing membrane processes and also for producers of membrane materials. Results for hydrogen transport and catalytic activity will be useful to catalyst development. Also, the technology proposed will be suitable for local, small scale, distributed power generation, and on-board production of ultrapure H2 for PEM fuel cell applications, which indicate that natural gas or small amounts liquid-fuel such as LPG, DME, ethanol can be used to generate hydrogen for PEM fuel cell to generate electricity in a variety of applications and can be extended even to portable electrical appliances. We expect that the results of proposed project will be interested to companies of Air Products, Foster Weeler, Petronas Malaysia, Shell International, BP Technology and Johnson Matthey and will hold a workshop at Imperial in the final year of the project to disseminate the results from this project to these companies and at the same time serves as a platform for research exchanges between UK and China.
Organisations
Publications
Gouveia Gil A
(2015)
Ni/SBA-15 Catalysts for combined steam methane reforming and water gas shift-Prepared for use in catalytic membrane reactors
in Applied Catalysis A: General
Gouveia Gil A
(2015)
A highly permeable hollow fibre substrate for Pd/Al2O3 composite membranes in hydrogen permeation
in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Gouveia Gil A
(2015)
A catalytic hollow fibre membrane reactor for combined steam methane reforming and water gas shift reaction
in Chemical Engineering Science
Gouveia Gil A
(2015)
Microstructured Catalytic Hollow Fiber Reactor for Methane Steam Reforming
in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
Othman N
(2015)
Micro-structured Bi 1.5 Y 0.3 Sm 0.2 O 3- d catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane
in AIChE Journal
García-García F
(2014)
Studies on water-gas-shift enhanced by adsorption and membrane permeation
in Catalysis Today
Description | Hollow fibre membrane reactors consisting of an asymmetric alumina membrane with radial microchannels supporting an ultra-thin Pd or Pd-Ag outer membrane have been developed. Ni catalysts, especially Ni/SBA-15, have been dispersed into the radial microchannels. These novel catalytic membrane reactors have been applied to methane steam reforming and to the shift reaction to produce a hydrogen stream separated from the carbon dioxide. The catalytic membrane reactors show superior performance to conventional catalytic reactor configurations. |
Exploitation Route | The catalytic hollow fibre membrane reactor have been developed for application in pre-combustion decarbonisation of hydrocarbon fuels - especially natural gas or gases from coal, heavy fuel oil, or biomass gasification. However, they could be also used in a number of applications in chemicals manufacture where hydrogen needs to be removed from the process or added to the process. |
Sectors | Chemicals,Energy,Environment |
Description | Good links have been established with membrane technology and CO2 capture communities in Malaysia. Links with China on membrane technology have been maintained. Participation in UK CCS RC permits wider impact on society and policy. |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Chemicals,Education |
Description | DICP Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Workshop on membrane technology held at DICP, Dalian, China. 3 presentation by UK side; 3 presentations by Chinese side; general discussion; discussions about future research cooperation. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Keynote by Prof Kang Li (Malaysia Workshop) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Keynote address by Prof. Kang Li "CO2 capture and utilization using catalytic membrane reactors", Carbon Capture and Utilization Workshop, 2017, Malaysia |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Plenary by Prof Kang Li (Malaysia) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Plenary lecture by Prof Kang Li "New morphologies of ceramic hollow fibre towards broadening applications", National Congress on Membrane Technology, Malaysia, 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |