Thermocatalytic process for CO.sub.2-free production of hydrogen and carbon from hydrocarbons

Patent · Tue Aug 23 04:00:00 EDT 2011

OSTI ID:1024116

Muradov, Nazim Z ^[1]

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1. Melbourne, FL

A novel process and apparatus are disclosed for sustainable CO.sub.2-free production of hydrogen and carbon by thermocatalytic decomposition (dissociation, pyrolysis, cracking) of hydrocarbon fuels over carbon-based catalysts in the absence of air and/or water. The apparatus and thermocatalytic process improve the activity and stability of carbon catalysts during the thermocatalytic process and produce both high purity hydrogen (at least, 99.0 volume %) and carbon, from any hydrocarbon fuel, including sulfurous fuels. In a preferred embodiment, production of hydrogen and carbon is achieved by both internal and external activation of carbon catalysts. Internal activation of carbon catalyst is accomplished by recycling of hydrogen-depleted gas containing unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons back to the reactor. External activation of the catalyst can be achieved via surface gasification with hot combustion gases during catalyst heating. The process and apparatus can be conveniently integrated with any type of fuel cell to generate electricity.

• Research Organization: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. (Orlando, FL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC36-99GO10456
• Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc. (Orlando, FL)
• Patent Number(s): 8,002,854
• Application Number: 11/648,453
• OSTI ID: 1024116
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY