Simple Continuous High‐Pressure Hydrogen Production and Separation System from Formic Acid under Mild Temperatures

Abstract

Abstract A simple and continuous high‐pressure (>120 MPa) hydrogen production system was developed by the selective decomposition of formic acid at 80 °C using an iridium complex as a catalyst, with a view to its application in future hydrogen fuel filling stations. The system is devoid of any compressing system. The described method can provide high‐pressure H 2 with 85 % purity after applying an effective gas–liquid separation process to separate the generated gas obtained from the decomposition of formic acid (H 2 /CO 2 =1:1). The efficiency of the catalyst lies with its high turnover frequency (1800 h −1 at 40 MPa) to produce high‐pressure H 2 with a good lifetime of >40 h. Interestingly, only very low levels carbon monoxide (less than 6 vol ppm) were detected in the generated gas, even at 120 MPa.