Hydrogen production by a 2-step water-splitting thermochemical cycle using metal oxides (ferrites) redox pairs and CH4 have been studied in this experiment. Reactions were performed in a two-step redox cycle in which the ferrites were reacted with CH4 at 700°C–800°C to produce CO, H2, and various reduced phases (reduction step); these were then reoxidized with water vapor to generate H2 in water-splitting step (oxidation step) at 600°C–700°C. The reduced forms of Ni-Fe2O3, Ni-FeO and Ni-Fe alloy from XRD, showed respectively different reactivity for H2 formation from H2O. These were oxidized to the ferrite phase to produce H2 in the water-splitting step at 600°C–700°C. In reduction reaction at 800°C, carbon deposition arise on surface of Ni-ferrite due to CH4 decomposition. This reduced phase containing carbon, which reacts with H2O at 600°C, produce H2, CO, and CO2. The amount of H2 evolved using reduced phase containing carbon was much than that of other phase.
Hydrogen Production via Thermochemical Water Splitting Process by Alkali Metal Redox Cycle
