Process Intensification of the Hydrogen Production Reaction Using a Carbon Membrane Reactor: Kinetics Analysis

Plate carbon membranes were fabricated and coupled into a membrane reactor to intensify the steam reforming of methanol (SRM). The homemade Cu-based catalyst and carbon membranes were characterized by using thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, N-2 adsorption, and gas permeation. The effects of the reaction temperature, reactor type, and carbon membranes on the methanol conversion and hydrogen yield were investigated. The results show that the coupling of carbon membranes in the reactor improves the methanol conversion significantly. In addition, both the methanol conversion and reaction rate increase, and the hydrogen yield first decreases then increases as the reaction temperature was elevated from 220 to 300 degrees C. This indicates that both thermodynamic and kinetic factors contribute to the intensification of SRM in the carbon membrane reactor.