Purification of Hydrogen by Pressure Swing Adsorption

TLDR

Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) processes are employed to produce high‑purity hydrogen from steam methane reforming off‑gas and refinery off‑gases. The study reviews commercial PSA processes for hydrogen production, including those that produce CO₂ by‑products, and evaluates recent ideas to enhance H₂ recovery through integration with selective surface‑flow membranes or additional PSA units. The authors conduct a literature review of PSA designs and integration concepts, summarizing equilibrium adsorption data and adsorbent selection criteria. Equilibrium adsorption characteristics of SMROG and ROG components on activated carbon, zeolite, and silica gel are reported, and criteria for adsorbent selection in PSA processes are discussed. Acknowledgments are provided.

Abstract

Abstract Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) processes are used for the production of high purity hydrogen from steam methane reforming off-gas (SMROG) and refinery off-gases (ROG). A variety of commercial PSA processes for the production of H2 with or without a by-product (CO2 from SMROG), as well as PSA processes for direct production of ammonia synthesis gas (from SMROG), are reviewed. The equilibrium ad(de)sorption characteristics of the components of SMROG and ROG feed gas on an activated carbon, a zeolite, and a silica gel are reported, and the criteria for adsorbent selection in these PSA processes are discussed. Recent ideas to increase the H2 recovery from these PSA processes by integrating them with selective surface flow membranes or other PSA units are reviewed. Acknowledgments