Ultra-Pure Hydrogen via Co-Valorization of Olive Mill Wastewater and Bioethanol in Pd-Membrane Reactors
1
Department of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
2
ENEA, FSN Department, C.R. Frascati, Via E. Fermi 45, I-00044 Frascati (RM), Italy
3
ENEA-DUEE-SPS, Energy Efficiency Department, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, I-00123 Roma (RM), Italy
4
Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, C/Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Processes 2020, 8(2), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8020219
Received: 30 December 2019 / Revised: 4 February 2020 / Accepted: 7 February 2020 / Published: 13 February 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis in Membrane Reactors)
Olive mill wastewater (OMW) presents high environmental impact due to the fact of its elevated organic load and toxicity, especially in Mediterranean countries. Its valorization for simultaneous pollutants degradation and green energy production is receiving great attention, mainly via steam reforming for hydrogen generation. Following previous works, the present research goes into detail about OMW valorization, particularly investigating for the first time the potential benefits of OMW–bioethanol mixtures co-reforming for ultra-pure hydrogen production in Pd-membrane reactors. In this manner, the typical large dilution of OMW and, hence, excess water can be used as a reactant for obtaining additional hydrogen from ethanol. Fresh OMW was previously conditioned by filtration and distillation processes, analyzing later the effect of pressure (1–5 bar), oxidizing conditions (N2 or air as carrier gas), gas hourly space velocity (150–1500 h−1), and alcohol concentration on the co-reforming process (5–10% v/v). In all cases, the exploitation of OMW as a source of environmentally friendly hydrogen was demonstrated, obtaining up to 30 NmL·min−1 of pure H2 at the most favorable experimental conditions. In the membrane reactor, higher pressures up to 5 bar promoted both total H2 production and pure H2 recovery due to the increase in the permeate flux despite the negative effect on reforming thermodynamics. The increase of ethanol concentration also provoked a positive effect, although not in a proportional relation. Thus, a greater effect was obtained for the increase from 5% to 7.5% v/v in comparison to the additional improvement up to 10% v/v. On the contrary, the use of oxidative conditions slightly decreased the hydrogen production rate, while the effect of gas hourly space velocity needs to be carefully analyzed due to the contrary effect on potential total H2 generation and pure H2 recovery.
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Keywords:
palladium membrane; membrane reactor; steam reforming; olive mill wastewater; bioethanol; hydrogen
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MDPI and ACS Style
Alique, D.; Bruni, G.; Sanz, R.; Calles, J.A.; Tosti, S. Ultra-Pure Hydrogen via Co-Valorization of Olive Mill Wastewater and Bioethanol in Pd-Membrane Reactors. Processes 2020, 8, 219. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8020219
AMA Style
Alique D, Bruni G, Sanz R, Calles JA, Tosti S. Ultra-Pure Hydrogen via Co-Valorization of Olive Mill Wastewater and Bioethanol in Pd-Membrane Reactors. Processes. 2020; 8(2):219. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8020219
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlique, David; Bruni, Giacomo; Sanz, Raúl; Calles, José A.; Tosti, Silvano. 2020. "Ultra-Pure Hydrogen via Co-Valorization of Olive Mill Wastewater and Bioethanol in Pd-Membrane Reactors" Processes 8, no. 2: 219. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8020219
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