Monash membrane project explores “missing link to supply chain success” for hydrogen

A new project involving Monash University is developing a “a semi-pilot membrane system” to make transporting hydrogen easier.

Researchers are making use of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) liquids that can safely store hydrogen, which are not new, but are developing a way of efficiently extracting hydrogen from LOHCs like methylcyclohexane, which is.

According to a statement from the university on Tuesday, its researchers are collaborating with Korean membrane commercialisation company SMU Airrane on a combination of “custom-built membranes and catalysts” to extract hydrogen at low temperatures.

It adds that the approach shows promise in being cheaper, safer and less energy-hungry than current methods, and has been successful at the proof-of-concept stage.

“We believe our membrane system is the missing link to supply-chain success – a way to cleanly and efficiently release hydrogen at the point of use, without relying on complex high-temperature processes,” Professor Matt Hill said.

“Let’s say Australia produces hydrogen using solar power. Instead of liquefying or compressing it, we bond the hydrogen to a liquid carrier and send it off in regular fuel tankers – the same ones already used in the oil industry. 

“Once it arrives, our system unlocks the hydrogen on-site and the empty carrier liquid is returned and reused. It’s clean, efficient and uses infrastructure we already have.”

A grant for the project was awarded support on Tuesday through the federal Global Connections Fund (GCF) program, which provided eight grants totalling $560,733 to researchers in Australian-South Korean collaborations.

The project is expected to be completed next year and will make use of the recently-launched Membrane Pilot Facility at Monash’s Clayton campus.

Picture: credit Monash University

Further reading

Monash University, CSIRO open new Membrane Pilot Facility at Clayton