Process integration for hydrogen production, purification and storage using iron oxides

•Natural and synthetic iron oxides were employed for hydrogen storage and purification.•Chromium addition increased the stability of the iron oxides.•Iron oxides were tested under realistic conditions.

Hydrogen production from natural gas using a Ni-based catalyst and its later hydrogen storage with some synthetic and natural iron oxides are presented. The Ni-based catalyst showed high methane conversion, close to the equilibrium one, when producing hydrogen from methane through catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) and wet-CPO with a low steam to carbon ratio (0.5). The solid solution formation observed in the Ni-based catalyst could have enhanced its stability. The iron oxides capacity for hydrogen storage was analysed with reduction–oxidation cycles at 973 K and atmospheric pressure. The natural oxides presented structural modifications, mainly due to sinterization, which negatively affected their storage capacity and stability.