Developing ammonia decomposition catalysts on porous carbon monoliths
R&D Focus Areas:
Ammonia, Technology integration process improvement
Lead Organisation:
CSIRO
Partners:
Not Applicable
Status:
Active
Start date:
December 2022
Completion date:
December 2023
Key contacts:
Alex Ilyushechkin: alex.ilyushechkin@csiro.au
San Shwe Hla: San.Hla@csiro.au
Liezl Schoeman: Liezl.Schoeman@csiro.au
Funding:
CSIRO (HES FSP)
Project total cost:
FSP: AUD$91,000 – CSIRO Energy-in kind: $73,000, CSIRO Minerals-in kind: AUD$18,000
Project summary description:
CSIRO Energy has developed metal membrane hydrogen separation technology which is currently applied for hydrogen separation from nitrogen and ammonia consequent to catalytic ammonia cracking. Previous experience in testing of ammonia cracking /hydrogen separation rig demonstrates the importance of robust, stable catalysts able to stably operate at the conditions compatible with the operation of membrane reactor. These include temperature/pressure/atmosphere while being compatible with the reactor materials.
Commercially, catalysts for lower temperature ammonia cracking contain noble metals such as Pt, Pd, Ru, and Rh and these are incorporated into porous alumina or silica supports. They exhibit high catalytic activity and low activation energy; however, their high costs and low availability limit their use in commercial applications to a great extent.
In the present project, the carbon monoliths produced by the CSIRO Mineral Resources team will be used as a matrix (support) structure to enhance the performance of ammonia cracking catalyst at least by one of the following improvements:
- Increase catalytic activity of loaded catalyst by optimising catalyst distribution on the monolith, and developing processes for effectively activating the catalyst.
- Reduce operating temperature for particularly low-cost catalysts.
- Minimise catalyst degradation and increase catalyst lifetime.
- Reduce the noble metal catalyst loading (mg/kg hydrogen produced by cracking).
Related publications and key links:
Not Applicable
Higher degree studies supported:
Not Applicable
September 2023