Performance of a hybrid system sorbent–catalyst–membrane for CO2 capture and H2 production under pre-combustion operating conditions

• Hybrid adsorbent–catalyst systems enhanced catalytic activity of WGS catalysts.
• Optimum volume ratio adsorbent/catalyst depends on process temperature.
• The presence of a membrane highly selective to H2 enhanced the conversion of CO.
• The reverse WGS reaction occurred in presence of the membrane.
• Additional amount of steam is required in the hybrid adsorbent–catalyst–membrane system to guarantee complete CO conversion.

This paper presents experimental results obtained for different approaches used for the simultaneous capture of CO2 and production of H2 under precombustion conditions. A novel hybrid system adsorbent–catalyst–membrane has been designed at Ciemat which combines a sorption enhanced WGS process (which consists of a mixture of adsorbent and catalyst) with a hydrogen selective membrane. First, the individual performance of the membrane and the binary adsorbent–catalyst system is evaluated in terms of H2 permeability, carbon monoxide conversion and CO2 capture and best operating conditions are determined for both approaches. The crucial role of temperature and steam on the overall performance of the system is especially discussed. Finally, first experimental results obtained for the hybrid adsorbent–catalyst–membrane system are presented and the advantages and challenges of adding a H2 selective membrane to the sorption-enhanced process are analysed.

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