This project is oriented towards the detailed study of viability in the hydrogen production and purification (for energetic purposes, as an energy carrier alternative to the conventional fossil fuels) by means of reduction-oxidation processes and the use of two-zone fluidized bed reactors. This objective is concretized in the following items:

• a) Improvement of the steam-iron process for hydrogen separation in H₂/CH₄ mixtures (coming from natural gas thermal decomposition) by means of:
  (a-1) increasing the metallic oxides stability,
  (a-2) using natural oxides,
  (a-3) optimizing the redox cycles time, and
  (a-4) carrying out the process in an ICFBR (Interconnected fluidized bed reactor).
• b) Use of a TZFBR (Two zone fluidized bed reactor) as an alternative contactor in order to improve the selectivity and/or continuity in the following processes:
  (b-1) selective oxidation of carbon monoxide (Selox) from hydrogen streams to be used in PEMFC fuel cells,
  (b-2) bioethanol oxidative steam reforming to produce hydrogen,
  (b-3) methane oxidative steam reforming to produce hydrogen, and
  (b-4) methane oligomerization to benzene.

Project: CTQ2007-63420/PPQ