Is mass-scale electrocatalysis of aqueous methanol an energetically and economically viable option for hydrogen production?

Jan E. Szulejko; Eilhann E. Kwon; Ki-Hyun Kim

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.105, 58-62, January, 2022

DOI10.1016/j.jiec.2021.09.028 Export Citation

Is mass-scale electrocatalysis of aqueous methanol an energetically and economically viable option for hydrogen production?

Jan E. Szulejko, Eilhann E. Kwon¹, and Ki-Hyun Kim^†

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-Ro, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
¹Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-Ro, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea

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The use of primary alcohols (such as methanol) in the production of hydrogen (H2) has been spotlighted as one of the indispensable measures to pursue a greener economy. Here, we address some potential shortcomings concerning the production of H2 based on aqueous methanol electrolysis in reference to steam methane reforming (SMR) as a mature commercial technology. After all, is SMR an economic and low-energy route for H2 production? Is it feasible to use methanol to electrolytically generate H2? The liquid-phase methanol-based hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at 335 K is an example of a potentially entropy driven reaction (exoergic, even though very endothermic) with a suitable catalyst using either ambient or waste heat. Further, would it be more efficient to use methane as a source of hydrogen via SMR or consume it directly as energy? The suitability of HER is assessed in the context of industrial energy analysis, thermodynamics, and sustainability.

Keywords:Hydrogen evolution;Hydrogen consumption;Methanol;Electro-oxidation

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[1] IEA International Energy Agency - Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector (https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050), 2021.

[2] Ewan BCR, Allen RWK, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 30(8), 809 (2005)

[3] Kim JE, Zhang YH, Percival, Use of Carbohydrates for Hydrogen Storage, Compendium of Hydrogen Energy, Woodhead Publishing, pp.219, 2016.

[4] BP, Statistical Review of World Energy, 69th ed., 2020.

[5] Chong ZR, Yang SHB, Babu P, Linga P, Li XS, Appl. Energy, 162, 1633 (2016)

[6] Yang MJ, Fu Z, Jiang LL, Song YC, Appl. Energy, 187, 180 (2017)

[7] Roszak R, Firlej L, Roszak S, Pfeifer P, Kuchta B, Colloids Surf. A: Physicochem. Eng. Asp., 496, 67 (2016)

[8] Hurst K, Gennett T, Adams J, et al., ChemphysChem, 20, 1997 (2019)

[9] Laitinen HA, Anal. Chem., 45, 2305 (1973)

[10] NIST, NIST Chemistry WebBook - NIST Standard Reference Database Number 69, 2020.

[11] IPCC-5AR, IPCC 5th Assessment Synthesis Report, Climate Change 2014, 2015.

[12] Szulejko JE, Kumar P, Deep A, Kim KH, Atmos. Pollut. Res., 8, 136 (2017)

[13] Hosseini SE, Wahid MA, Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev., 57, 850 (2016)

[14] Ofgem, Office of Gas and Electricity Markets: All wholesale gas charts and indicators, 2020.

[15] Lindzen RS, J. Am. Phys. Surgeons, 18, 70 (2013)

[16] Rorsch A, Humanities, 3, 442 (2014)

[17] Markandya A, Wilkinson P, Lancet, 370, 979 (2007)

[18] Waeber PO, Stoudmann N, Langston JD, Ghazoul J, Wilme L, Sayer J, Nobre C, Innes JL, Fernbach P, Sloman SA, Garcia CA, Sustainability, 13, 3578 (2021)

[19] Njoh AJ, Renew. Sust. Energ. Rev., 147 (2021)

[20] Mahesh KN, Balaji R, Dhathathreyan KS, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 41(1), 46 (2016)

[21] Ruiz-Lopez E, Caravaca A, Vernoux P, Dorado F, de Lucas-Consuegra A, Chem. Eng. J., 125217 (2020).