Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines

James Douglas Way

Colin A Wolden

Sean-Thomas Bourne Lundin

Anawat Sungpet

Zhenyu Zhang

Rok Sitar

Methods for the operation of membrane reactors (MRs) are disclosed for the efficient production of hydrogen-enriched fuel blends with tunable composition and high hydrogen recovery at both elevated and isobaric pressure operation. These methods enable use of greatly reduced operating temperatures relative to packed bed reactors (PBRs) and elimination of the need for a secondary separation unit operation. These methods provide greater productivity and hydrogen recovery while relaxing membrane selectivity constraints relative to conventional MR operation.

Generation of ammonia/hydrogen mixtures and/or hydrogen-enriched fuel mixtures

The present invention relates to catalysts, methods of making catalysts, and methods of using catalysts, where the catalysts include: at least one of a transition metal and a transition metal oxide supported by yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), where the transition metal is promoted by at least one of an alkali metal and an alkaline-earth metal.

Methods of making YSZ supported catalyst, and methods of using the same

A catalytic membrane reactor and methods of operating and producing the same are provided that efficiently produces highly pure hydrogen (H) from ammonia (NH) as well as operates according to other chemical conversion processes. In one embodiment, a tubular ceramic support made from porous yttria-stabilized zirconia has an outer surface that is impregnated with a metal catalyst such as ruthenium and then plated with a hydrogen permeable membrane such as palladium. An inner surface of the ceramic support is impregnated with cesium to promote conversion of ammonia to hydrogen and nitrogen (N). The resulting catalytic membrane reactor produces highly pure hydrogen at low temperatures and with less catalytic loading. Therefore, ammonia can be used to effectively transport hydrogen for use in, for example, fuel cells in a vehicle.

Catalytic membrane reactor, methods of making the same and methods of using the same for dehydrogenation reactions

The present invention relates to a method to synthesize ammonia at moderate conditions. The present invention also relates to a new chemical reactor configuration to achieve ammonia synthesis at moderate pressures and temperatures, and methods to make membranes for use in ammonia synthesis.

Ammonia synthesis at moderate conditions using hydrogen permeable membrane reactors

Provided is a membrane separation method for separating a first component (,) from a second component (,) in a fluid mixture (,). The method is particularly useful for separating a more highly unsaturated organic compound from a less highly unsaturated organic compound of a saturated organic compound, as well as making other separations. A membrane is used that includes first chemical groups, that are ionic and associated with ion exchange sites in the membrane, a second chemical group that modify the electronic environment of the ion exchange sites to enhance facilitated transport through the membrane. An example membrane is a silver (I)-form Nafion&trade;-poly(pyrrole) composite membrane. Also provided are a membrane (,), and apparatus (,) for use with the method.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

James Douglas Way