Decarbonisation of oil: Microwave-catalytic production of clean hydrogen from fossil fuels

In this project a clean, efficient method will be developed to extract very pure hydrogen from fossil fuels using microwaves. Hydrogen is often called the 'fuel of the future' since it has a high energy density and when used in fuel cells the only product is water. However, it is difficult to store. Microwave assisted heterogeneous catalysis has been shown to release very pure hydrogen from fossil fuels, suppressing all unwanted side products such as carbon dioxide and methane, and leaving only solid carbon. This could solve the hydrogen storage problem and provide a green method of using the vast reserves of oil upon which the entire world relies, thus decarbonising the entire fossil fuel economy.

The discovery of microwave dehydrogenation of fossil fuels is still new, and needs intensive investigation in order to realise the potential impact of the technology upon the decarbonisation of the world. There are major research challenges to be overcome. The key challenges are to drive these microwave reactions efficiently, controllably and repeatably.
The net energy balance of the process is currently poor and not much more chemical energy can be obtained (in the form of H2) than the microwave energy that we put in. This work will advance the scientific understanding of the process, thereby improving efficiency of the new technology.

This project will enable us to (i) precisely control the microwave fields applied to the sample, since these fields directly influence reaction conditions, consequently determining reaction pathways and selectivity and efficiency, (ii) better understand the microwave interaction and catalytic processes involved, and (iii) demonstrate an efficient microwave system for the monitoring and control of the reaction. A suite of new techniques, only made available by recent advances in microwave science, will be used to meet these challenges, such as new magnetic resonance microwave heating cavities, open structures for X-ray analysis during microwave dehydrogenation and advances in solid-state microwave sources.

Hydrogen is difficult to store and transport for use as a fuel. It is widely recognised that a major scientific and technological barrier to the commercialisation and market acceptance of hydrogen based technologies such as fuel cell vehicles is the lack of a cheap, safe and effective hydrogen storage method. This remains a major problem for the scientific community. Current hydrogen storage methods use high pressure or dangerous materials. Despite extensive research globally, over the past few decades covering a vast range of hydrogen storage materials, no single material has met the critical requirements for a viable hydrogen storage material. Any such materials must achieve parity with petrochemicals in terms of cost, safety and energy density. In addition, the national infrastructure required for the storage and transportation of hydrogen as a fuel does not exist, whereas generally, much of our wider national infrastructure is built around the petrochemical storage, transportation and usage network. Extracting hydrogen from fossil fuels in an environmentally friendly process could enable the world to continue using the existing fuel transport infrastructure and petrochemical stores with no impact upon the environment at all.

To attempt to overcome the issues surrounding hydrogen, we have recently demonstrated a method that uses microwaves in combination with electromagnetically designed catalysts in order to rapidly release large amounts of very pure hydrogen from hydrocarbons such as diesel at the point of use. This 24 month project will develop ultra-efficient microwave systems and microwave absorbing catalysts and will in parallel, uncover the fundamental science of the microwave dehydrogenation process, little of which is known.

This project will contribute to global societal impact economically and environmentally. Hydrogen storage technologies could be instrumental in bringing about a major change in fuel consumption and reducing its environmental impact. Thus, any advances in this area will impact the lives of everyone in the world by reducing climate change and improving economic activity. This work is expected to enhance the UK's research capabilities in RF and microwave technology and catalysis in the energy sector. By closely collaborating with project partners in Cardiff, Oxford, Cambridge and KACST (the governmental funding and research body in Saudi Arabia), the outcomes of this project will lead to the direct deployment of this technology commercially, and generate further funding for development.

Hydrocarbon technologies are deeply entrenched and the entire global infrastructure is based upon them. With massive international interests in the existing oil reserves, most alternative technologies seek to disrupt the oil industry and reduce oil consumption, but face resistance from major oil producing concerns. However, this work seeks to decarbonise the petrochemical industry solving economic problems and environmental problems in parallel.
The specific impact of this work based upon the decarbonisation of fuel will be to provide a green way to use the energy dense hydrocarbon reserves that already form the infrastructure upon which our civilisation is built. We will develop an efficient benchtop flow system, which will take in diesel and generate hydrogen using microwave assisted catalysis. With KACST, and coordinated by HA, key Saudi Arabian stakeholders in the project from Saudi Aramco and SABIC will play an important role in ensuring that efforts are focused on industrial need and will assist in technology transfer, and translating promising approaches into practice, including advising on the practicalities of future industrial scale-up.
In the short term (< 5 years), following completion of the project, beneficiaries will be industrial bodies and larger institutions, which will set the agenda for adoption of this technology.

A large number of industrial bodies are interested in improving hydrogen storage technologies, advances in hydrogen storage materials are felt acutely by the UK industrial community. Saudi Arabia has the largest state-owned oil company in the world, valued at up to US$10 trillion ("Could Saudi Aramco Be Worth 20 Times Exxon?", Wall Street Journal, 8 Jan 2016) and the second largest proven crude oil reserves. The project partner KACST, is the national scientific council of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It coordinates and also develops national policies and priorities. This project will generate major funding opportunities from Saudi Arabia, through its national scientific institution KACST and Saudi Aramco. The Saudi Arabian petrochemical industry is well-resourced and highly-motivated to invest in decarbonising and hydrogen producing technologies. Developing an efficient industrial microwave dehydrogenation process will lead to major opportunities in this sector.

Outreach activities will engage school-age pupils and introduce them to cutting edge applications of modern science and frame challenging technical material: Petrochemicals, climate change and new green fuel technologies are very obvious societal concerns and these will be at the heart of outreach activities aimed at the young. DRS is a STEM Ambassador and regularly engages with the public as a part of outreach activities. Students will be able to relate very easily to the benefits of this technology and see how it could impact the world at every level, from national infrastructure, to everyday household and transport use