MIT develops energy-efficient method to extract hydrogen from ammonia
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed an electrochemical process for producing high-purity hydrogen from ammonia that requires significantly less energy than traditional methods. OilPrice reports.
An alternative to cracking
The traditional process of extracting hydrogen from ammonia, known as cracking, requires heating to temperatures above 500 degrees Celsius to ensure a high reaction rate and conversion. In contrast, the MIT development uses electrical energy to initiate the dehydrogenation reaction while simultaneously separating hydrogen from the carrier.
According to study author Yogesh Surendranath, the researchers sought to electrically control a reaction that would otherwise be unfavorable and immediately obtain high-purity hydrogen. Such gas, he noted, can be used directly in fuel cells and other installations that require a high-purity hydrogen stream.
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Storage and transportation
Ammonia is being considered as a carrier for storing and transporting hydrogen. At the same time, the energy costs of subsequently extracting hydrogen have limited the advantages of this approach. The new process could reduce energy consumption at the supply stage, which the source describes as one of the barriers to the competitiveness of low-carbon hydrogen.
The study results were published in the journal Nature. Hydrogen is used in industry, fuel cells, and computer chip production. At the same time, a significant share of hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels, while “green” hydrogen, produced using renewable electricity, remains expensive to produce, store, and distribute.
