Synthesis of Metallic Membranes for Hydrogen Production
Dr. Mohamed Ali Elharati
Research Associate
Monday, 03/25/2024 at 2:30 pm
CAMP 194
Abstract
It is imperative to transition towards a decarbonized energy system, reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the adoption of zero-carbon emissions fuels like the use of hydrogen (H2), alongside electrifying several sectors. This strategic shift is essential to address the pressing challenges of meeting energy demands, mitigating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and combatting the global climate crisis. H2 is considered the energy carrier of the future due to its high energy density and zero-carbon emission. A promising technology for generating clean carbon-neutral H2 from thermochemical reforming (TCR) reactions is the metallic membrane reactor (MR). This innovative approach has the intrinsic advantage of using metallic membranes, which exhibit high separation selectivity and efficiency in separating hydrogen from the reforming process. Unlike conventional methods, where the separation of hydrogen from the reformate stream requires additional and energy-intensive steps, metallic MRs integrate the separation function directly into the reforming reactor itself. Despite its advantages, the major technical issue and current technological limitations of the metallic MRs are the absence of suitable materials that can directly operate with TCR reactions at intermediate temperatures and their poor tolerance for chemical poisoning and thermal cycling. In this presentation, we will briefly give an introduction about the H2 metallic membrane, MR, and its challenges, followed by a discussion on the technical fabrication stages of a Pd-based membrane on the laboratory scale.
Dr. Mohamed Ali Elharati joined Clarkson University as a Research Associate in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department in 2023. He received his BSc degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tripoli in Libya and his MSc degree with Cum Laude in Chemical Process Engineering from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Dr. Elharati completed his Ph.D. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Washington State University in 2022. His research focused on developing an internal micro-reforming catalytic active layer to enhance the electrochemical performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) under fed-direct ethanol fuel at intermediate temperatures. Throughout his graduate study, he was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Assistant in the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department in 2018. Dr. Elharati’s research covers diverse areas, including heterogeneous catalysis, steam reforming reaction of hydrocarbon fuel, H2 production, SOFC, CO2 capture, microelectrode, and polymeric membrane separation technology for wastewater treatment and desalination. Currently, he is fabricating and characterizing Pd-based membranes for carbon-neutral hydrogen production in metallic MR via water gas shift (WGS) reaction.
