Enhanced ammonia decomposition using a Pd-Ag membrane reactor for high-purity hydrogen production

In this study, a Pd-Ag membrane reactor (MR) integrated with a lab-synthesized ruthenium catalyst supported on La2Ce2O7 was used for the efficient production and recovery of highly-pure hydrogen from ammonia decomposition. The catalyst was synthesized using solution combustion techniques, and its st...

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Main Authors: Erasmo Salvatore Napolitano, Cristina Italiano, Adele Brunetti, Minju Thomas, Antonio Vita, Giuseppe Barbieri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Fuel Processing Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037838202500027X
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author Erasmo Salvatore Napolitano
Cristina Italiano
Adele Brunetti
Minju Thomas
Antonio Vita
Giuseppe Barbieri
author_facet Erasmo Salvatore Napolitano
Cristina Italiano
Adele Brunetti
Minju Thomas
Antonio Vita
Giuseppe Barbieri
author_sort Erasmo Salvatore Napolitano
collection DOAJ
description In this study, a Pd-Ag membrane reactor (MR) integrated with a lab-synthesized ruthenium catalyst supported on La2Ce2O7 was used for the efficient production and recovery of highly-pure hydrogen from ammonia decomposition. The catalyst was synthesized using solution combustion techniques, and its structure–activity relationship was thoroughly investigated through a range of advanced characterization methods, including N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).The performance of the membrane reactor was evaluated by varying the feed pressure and flow rate, using either single ammonia or a simulated outlet stream from a conventional reactor with ammonia conversions ranging from 20 % to 50 %. This configuration was designed to assess the MR ability to mitigate or prevent hydrogen back-permeation, as well as optimize membrane performance. The MR achieved ammonia conversions of up to 85 %, surpassing the thermodynamic limits typical of traditional reactors (TR). Hydrogen recovery rates reached 97 %, with purity consistently exceeding 90 %. Notably, the MR demonstrated up to 3.6 times higher ammonia conversion compared to conventional TR, highlighting its significant advantages for ammonia decomposition applications.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0378-3820
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Fuel Processing Technology
spelling doaj-art-08a76d326e504e5fbedcbe9df65755a52025-08-20T03:48:36ZengElsevierFuel Processing Technology0378-38202025-07-0127210820310.1016/j.fuproc.2025.108203Enhanced ammonia decomposition using a Pd-Ag membrane reactor for high-purity hydrogen productionErasmo Salvatore Napolitano0Cristina Italiano1Adele Brunetti2Minju Thomas3Antonio Vita4Giuseppe Barbieri5Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ITM), via P. Bucci 17C, 87036 Rende, CS, ItalyAdvanced Energy Technology Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ITAE), Salita Santa Lucia Sopra Contesse 5, 98126 Messina, ME, ItalyInstitute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ITM), via P. Bucci 17C, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; Corresponding authors.Advanced Energy Technology Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ITAE), Salita Santa Lucia Sopra Contesse 5, 98126 Messina, ME, ItalyInstitute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ITM), via P. Bucci 17C, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy; Corresponding authors.Advanced Energy Technology Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ITAE), Salita Santa Lucia Sopra Contesse 5, 98126 Messina, ME, ItalyIn this study, a Pd-Ag membrane reactor (MR) integrated with a lab-synthesized ruthenium catalyst supported on La2Ce2O7 was used for the efficient production and recovery of highly-pure hydrogen from ammonia decomposition. The catalyst was synthesized using solution combustion techniques, and its structure–activity relationship was thoroughly investigated through a range of advanced characterization methods, including N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).The performance of the membrane reactor was evaluated by varying the feed pressure and flow rate, using either single ammonia or a simulated outlet stream from a conventional reactor with ammonia conversions ranging from 20 % to 50 %. This configuration was designed to assess the MR ability to mitigate or prevent hydrogen back-permeation, as well as optimize membrane performance. The MR achieved ammonia conversions of up to 85 %, surpassing the thermodynamic limits typical of traditional reactors (TR). Hydrogen recovery rates reached 97 %, with purity consistently exceeding 90 %. Notably, the MR demonstrated up to 3.6 times higher ammonia conversion compared to conventional TR, highlighting its significant advantages for ammonia decomposition applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037838202500027XHydrogen purificationHydrogen carrierMembrane
spellingShingle Erasmo Salvatore Napolitano
Cristina Italiano
Adele Brunetti
Minju Thomas
Antonio Vita
Giuseppe Barbieri
Enhanced ammonia decomposition using a Pd-Ag membrane reactor for high-purity hydrogen production
Fuel Processing Technology
Hydrogen purification
Hydrogen carrier
Membrane
title Enhanced ammonia decomposition using a Pd-Ag membrane reactor for high-purity hydrogen production
title_full Enhanced ammonia decomposition using a Pd-Ag membrane reactor for high-purity hydrogen production
title_fullStr Enhanced ammonia decomposition using a Pd-Ag membrane reactor for high-purity hydrogen production
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced ammonia decomposition using a Pd-Ag membrane reactor for high-purity hydrogen production
title_short Enhanced ammonia decomposition using a Pd-Ag membrane reactor for high-purity hydrogen production
title_sort enhanced ammonia decomposition using a pd ag membrane reactor for high purity hydrogen production
topic Hydrogen purification
Hydrogen carrier
Membrane
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037838202500027X
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