Advances in Pd Membranes for Hydrogen Production from Residual Biomass and Wastes

Abstract

Hydrogen production from residual biomass and wastes is a sustainable approach for reducing their final accumulation in landfills and simultaneously a very promising alternative for the energy recovery. Most developed technologies to produce H2 from residual biomass and wastes are reviewed in this chapter focusing on the separation/purification of the produced hydrogen. Suitability of both thermochemical and biological technologies for hydrogen production is described, and examples of industrial processes are included. Basics of hydrogen separation/purification with membranes are detailed, and suitable separation technologies for the purification of hydrogen produced from biomass and waste conversion are presented focusing on the most recent advances in Pd-based membranes. The use of membrane reactors in which the traditional chemical reaction is combined to the continuous extraction of the main product with high purity, in this case hydrogen, is particularly interesting, being also addressed the most recent developments in this field.