A novel bio-cellulose membrane and modified adsorption approach in CO2/H2 separation technique for PEM fuel cell applications. (9th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Shu-Yii; Hsiao, I-Chih; Liu, Chun-Min; Mt Yusuf, Nur Yusra; Wan Isahak, Wan Nor Roslam; Masdar, Mohd Shahbudin
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 42:Number 45(2017)
• Page Start: 27630
• Page End: 27640
• Publication Date: 2017-11-09
• Subjects: Membrane gas separation -- Polyetherimide -- Polymer membrane -- Adsorbent -- PEM fuel cell; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.05.148
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, the membrane and the adsorption technologies approach are developed and used as a separation technique to separate carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and hydrogen (H2 ) gas mixture from biohydrogen dark fermentation. For a real application, the effect of CO2 impurity in the H2 fuel (i.e., the gas output from separation techniques) toward the PEM fuel cell performance was studied. Hence, a novel synthesized membrane made of glassy polymers, polyetherimide (PEI) coated bio-cellulose nanofibers and a coconut shell activated carbon (CAC) as adsorbents carriers were used. For the membrane separation technique, the bio-cellulose nanofiber is coated with PEI at varying concentration from 3 to 15 wt.%. The effect of PEI concentrations on the gas permeability and selectivity were observed. Meanwhile, for the adsorption separation technique, the performance of activated carbon was tested by using 0.6 L single column adsorber unit. The characterization of both developed membrane and adsorbent were analyzed including their morphologies and the physical properties. From the results, at 3 wt.% PEI coating, the CO2 permeability was 16.72 Barrer and corresponding selectivity of CO2 /H2 was 0.15. Moreover, the adsorbents carriers showed a better adsorption capacity for CO2 removal at which 77.17 mg of CO2 /g of adsorbent in a lower flow rate of feed gas at 0.5 L/min. In the case of PEM fuel cell, the performance would decrease with the increase of CO2 impurity in H2 . Therefore, the results presented on this paper are the initial findings generated for the biohydrogen separation technology for the future portable power of PEM fuel cell application. Highlights: Novel nanofiber bio-cellulose membranes possess lots of advantages as supporters. The BC with PEI membrane is a new bio-hydrogen separation material. The BC and activated carbon were analyzed for their separation physical properties.