Work

Electrically assisted POCS-catalytic reactor with integrated dense PdAg membrane for low-carbon hydrogen production via dry reforming of methane

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: According to the environmental and energy efficiency challenges that the scientific community is facing to solve the issues related to the reforming reactions energy input (conventionally provided via fossil fuels combustion), this work proposes an innovative design of an electrically-assisted Periodic Open Cellular Structure (POCS) structured membrane reactor. This configuration provides the energy input required for sustaining the dry reforming reaction through the Joule heating effect, enhancing the energy efficiency of the membrane reactor over 90%, and constituting an interesting solution to adopt renewable electricity coming from the grid, without emitting collateral CO 2 in the atmosphere. Thus, this work focuses on the development of an electrified catalytic reactor based on a high-thermal conductivity Ni-alloy POCS integrated with a fully H 2 perm-selective self-supported Pd Ag membrane for decarbonised H 2 production via dry reforming of methane (DRM). Operated at 500–550 °C, 3–4 bar and WHSV = 8–12 h −1 , this pioneering configuration exploits direct heat transfer to the catalytic bed through electrical heating, while the Ni/La₂O₃-CeO₂ coated POCS further flattens temperatures profiles. This innovative integrated design enables H 2 yields beyond thermodynamic predictions: 100% as well as 30% enhancements were obtained at 500 °C, 3 bar, 4 h −1 and at 12 h −1 and 4 bar, respectively. Moreover, higher sweep gas flows resulted in improved H 2 recovery and energy efficiency, which exceeded 90% at 550 °C and 12 h −1 . Although demonstrated at laboratory scale, these results clearly highlight the innovative potential of combining structured electrified catalysts with Pd Ag membranes to intensify DRM and deliver high-purity, low-carbon hydrogen. • Electrically Assisted POCS catalytic reactor integrated with a dense Pd Ag membrane. • H 2 permeation tests results: the H 2 purity of the permeate stream was >99.999%. • Pioneering reactor performances: H 2 yield doubled with respect to the equilibrium. • The energy efficiency of the developed groundbreaking configuration exceeded 90%.

Source: Chemical Engineering Journal

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.174263