Title: Thin palladium layer deposited on ceramic materials: application in hydrogen transport and catalytic membrane process

Authors: Stephane Haag, Michel Burgard, Jamal Amer, Barbara Ernst

Addresses: Laboratoire des Procedes de Separation (LPS), IPHC DSA, ULP, CNRS 7178, Ecole Europeenne de Chimie, Polymeres et Materiaux (ECPM), 25 rue Becquerel 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France. ' Laboratoire des Procedes de Separation (LPS), IPHC-DSA, ULP, CNRS 7178, Ecole Europeenne de Chimie, Polymeres et Materiaux (ECPM), 25 rue Becquerel 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France. ' Laboratoire des Procedes de Separation (LPS), IPHC-DSA, ULP, CNRS 7178, Ecole Europeenne de Chimie, Polymeres et Materiaux (ECPM), 25 rue Becquerel 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France. ' Laboratoire des Procedes de Separation (LPS), IPHC-DSA, ULP, CNRS 7178, Ecole Europeenne de Chimie, Polymeres et Materiaux (ECPM), 25 rue Becquerel 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France

Abstract: The objective of this work was to develop a thin, highly permeable, composite inorganic membrane based on palladium supported on a porous ceramic for high temperature hydrogen separation. The palladium layer (1-2 µm thick) was deposited by electroless plating on an asymmetric tubular alumina support. High temperature hydrogen permeation tests were done showing interesting hydrogen permselectivity properties with a H₂/N₂ separation factor at 60 (400°C) with a trans-membrane pressure difference of 1 bar. The transport of the hydrogen through the Pd membrane is mixed, solution-diffusion through the metal bulk and surface diffusion/Knudsen diffusion through the pores/defects of the film. As predicted, the membrane reactor for the dry reforming of methane shifts the equilibrium of the reaction in the direction of a higher hydrogen production. An enhancement of the methane conversion of 18% was observed in the membrane reactor configuration due to the selective removal of the hydrogen during the reaction as well as a limitation of side reactions.

Keywords: inorganic membrane; palladium; hydrogen separation; membrane reactor; methane reforming; thin layer; electroless plating; ceramics; hydrogen transport.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2008.020494

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2008 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.202 - 221

Published online: 27 Sep 2008 *

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