Hydrogen separation from peanut shell pyrolysis gas by using an electrochemical protonic ceramic cell hydrogen pump

Here we use the electrochemical hydrogen pump derived from a protonic ceramic cell (PCC) to realize the first demonstration of separating hydrogen from simulated peanut shell pyrolysis gas (64% H 2 , 26% CO, 4% CO 2 , and 6% CH 4 ). The single PCC is configured with a thick Ni–BaCe 0.7 Zr 0·1 Y 0·2 O 3-δ cathode, a thin BaCe 0·7 Zr 0·1 Y 0·18 Fe 0·02 O 3-δ electrolyte, and an Ag–Ce 0.8 Gd 0.2 O 1.9 anode with an effective area of 1.5 cm 2 . At 650 °C and a feeding current density of −500 mA cm −2 , a hydrogen flux of 2.34 ml min −1 cm −2 , a Faradaic efficiency of 62%, and a hydrogen recovery rate of 29% are achieved. In addition, 20 wt% Ni is mixed into the Ag-GDC electrode to achieve a hydrogen flux of 3.68 ml min −1 cm −2 and a Faradaic efficiency of 97%. Additionally, a 20-h measurement for PCCs with the Ni-mixed electrode shows the hydrogen fluxes and Faradaic efficiencies of above 1.49 ml min −1 cm −2 and 98%, respectively.