Korea Research Institute Develops Advanced Hydrogen Extraction Technology
The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology announced a groundbreaking development in hydrogen extraction technology on Nov. 27. A joint research team, led by Senior Researcher Kim Sang-jun and Principal Researcher Park Ji-hoon of the Chemical Process Research Division, along with Prof. Han Jung-woo from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Seoul National University, has developed an
Electromagnetic Induction Catalyst Heating System (ECIHS).
This innovative system significantly improves catalyst reaction speed and hydrogen extraction efficiency by directly heating the catalyst with electricity instead of fossil fuels.
The research results were published in the August issue of the international energy journal “Joule.” Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a next-generation energy source due to its zero carbon emissions. However, its large size and high explosion risk necessitate efficient and safe storage and transportation. Typically, hydrogen is chemically bonded to a substance called a “liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC)” and handled in a liquid state. To use the hydrogen again, an extraction process is required to chemically separate it from the LOHC, which can lead to energy inefficiency.
Hydrogen extraction is achieved by using a catalyst to induce a chemical reaction that separates hydrogen from the LOHC. For the reaction to occur, the catalyst and LOHC must be heated to 300℃, typically requiring heating through fossil fuels. This process unnecessarily heats the resulting gaseous hydrogen, leading to low energy efficiency and slow reaction speeds.
The ECIHS developed by the research team addresses these drawbacks by heating only the catalyst with electricity instead of fossil fuels. The team created a high-efficiency catalyst by forming the special material “titanium silicon carbide” into a honeycomb shape and adding platinum and sulfur to enhance heat transfer efficiency.
Experimental results showed that while it took 742 seconds for the LOHC to be heated to 300℃ with existing technology, the ECIHS achieved this in just 52 seconds. Including this, the ECIHS demonstrated a hydrogen extraction performance 16.4 times faster than existing technology. The hydrogen extraction efficiency relative to energy input for heating also increased more than twofold, from 40% to over 80%.
Senior Researcher Kim stated,
This demonstrates the potential to overcome the inefficiency of liquid catalyst reactions and establish itself as a core technology in the hydrogen economy,
He added,
We will pursue the commercialization of hydrogen technology through continuous research in the future.
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Korea Research Institute Develops Advanced Hydrogen Extraction Technology, source
