Abstract
Hydrogen energy systems are recognized as a promising solution for the energy shortage and environmental pollution crises. To meet the increasing demand for hydrogen, various possible systems have been investigated for the production of hydrogen by efficient and economical processes. Because of its advantages of being renewable and environmentally friendly, biomass processing has the potential to become the major hydrogen production route in the future. Membrane technology provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for hydrogen separation and greenhouse gas capture in biomass processing. In this review, the future prospects of using gas separation membranes for hydrogen production in biomass processing are extensively addressed from two perspectives: (1) the current development status of hydrogen separation membranes made of different materials and (2) the feasibility of using these membranes for practical applications in biomass-derived hydrogen production. Different types of hydrogen separation membranes, including polymeric membranes, dense metal membranes, microporous membranes (zeolite, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), silica, etc.) are systematically discussed in terms of their fabrication methods, gas permeation performance, structure stability properties, etc. In addition, the application feasibility of these membranes in biomass processing is assessed from both practical and economic perspectives. The benefits and possibilities of using membrane reactors for hydrogen production in biomass processing are also discussed. Lastly, we summarize the limitations of the currently available hydrogen membranes as well as the gaps between research achievements and industrial application. We also propose expected research directions for the future development of hydrogen gas membrane technology.
Highlights
Due to continuous population growth and economic development, an increasing amount of energy is being demanded and consumed worldwide
Different processes have been developed and utilized to produce pure hydrogen from various resources. Among these available hydrogen production processes, the steam reforming reaction (SRR) of natural gas followed by the water gas shift reaction (WGSR) is recognized as the most economical process and is responsible for over 90% of the total hydrogen production at present [7,8,9]
A membrane is a physical barrier that selectively permits specific species to pass through to the permeate side driven by chemical potential, while being able to retain most of the impermeable species at the retentate/feed
Summary
Due to continuous population growth and economic development, an increasing amount of energy is being demanded and consumed worldwide. CO2 emissions from fuel combustion increased to 32.3 billion metric tons in 2013, a number expected to increase as the non-OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) developing countries are anticipated to consume more energy in the upcoming decades [1] In this situation, exploring substitute energy resources and sustainable energy systems has become a highly urgent mission facing all countries at this moment. The separation and purification, the storage and delivery and the efficient utilization of the hydrogen gas produced are very important steps in realizing the benefits of using the hydrogen energy generated from sustainable resources [15] Among these steps, the separation and purification constitute a critical process in the hydrogen energy system from both the technical and economic perspectives. In addition to summarizing the recent development of hydrogen separation membranes, including their synthesis methods, hydrogen separation performance, etc., we aim to assess the technical and economic feasibility of utilizing the available hydrogen separation membranes in biomass processing, which would potentially assist researchers and engineers in choosing the right membrane process for their biomass processing design
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