Trans-Canada and trans-Atlantic distribution of bio-hydrogen using formic acid as the carrier

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The team is developing a process to produce green hydrogen (H2) fuel or green syngas (carbon monoxide and H2 mixtures) from biomass, using biogenic formic acid (bioFA) as a liquid H2 carrier. This process is developed in partnership between the German team that is perfecting the OxFA process as well as the conversion of bioFA to H2 or syngas steps at the lab scale, and the Canadian team that is developing the detailed processes at commercially relevant scales. Wood, beets, switchgrass, or other Canadian biomass is converted to bioFA through the new "OxFA" process developed by the German collaborator. Concentrated bioFA is stored as a liquid, is non-toxic and easy to handle, and can easily be transported. For example, bioFA can be made from beets in southwest Alberta or from wood in northern B.C., and then transported to remote communities in the Yukon or urban centers in Ontario. At its final destination, bioFA can be readily converted into H2 through a low-temperature catalytic reaction and then combusted for power generation, used as fuel for a fuel cell automobile, or used as an industrial chemical. In all three cases, the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are very small. Furthermore, bioFA is easier, safer, and cheaper to store and transport than H2 gas (which is quite dangerous), and more energy can be carried in the same volume when compared with compressed H2. This solves several trans-Canadian problems related to developing a new Hydrogen Economy. There is also a special benefit for the Canada-Germany trans-Atlantic trade: Germany imports great deals of wood chips which they burn for power in power plants. In fact, the vast majority of Canada's wood chips are exported to Europe for this purpose. This process would greatly expand the market for Canadian wood in Germany, because bioFA can be made from Canadian wood chips and then used to develop their hydrogen economy with no H2 storage required. The overall goal of this work is to design the best systems for both upstream and downstream components for both trans-Canadian and German distribution.