Sustainable Hydrogen Purification and Storage Through Innovative Liquid Organic
Hydrogen Carrier Technology
Sustainable Hydrogen Purification and Storage Through Innovative Liquid Organic
Hydrogen Carrier Technology
We have developed a distinguished technology that allows for the direct storage of H₂ from CO- and CO2-rich crude hydrogen into organic compounds, without the need for prior separation. This research not only enables the construction of a H₂ storage system but also introduces a new liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) system that can also serve as the H₂ purification method. This breakthrough is expected to significantly reduce the cost and increase the competitiveness of H₂ production and supply. Our strategy to use readily available main-group elements instead of precious metals such as platinum and palladium is not only beneficial, but also urgent for our resource-limited world.
- Affiliation:
- Osaka University
Graduate School of Engineering
- Representative:
- Yoichi Hoshimoto
Associate Professor,
Osaka University
Graduate School of Engineering
Yoichi Hoshimoto PhD
He received his Ph.D. from Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, and began his research career as a tenure-track assistant professor at the same graduate school. Currently, he is engaged in research on the development of novel molecular transformation using main-group elements and organometallic species as an associate professor in the Center for Future Innovation (CFi), Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University.
SOCIALSocial Implementation
Establishing a Venture Company to Sell H₂ Purification Systems and Related Technologies
We aim to establish a venture company that sells catalysts capable of selectively storing H₂ from crude hydrogen in LOHCs or H₂ purification systems using molecular catalysts. Our target customers include companies seeking to produce and consume H₂ locally, such as those in the steel industry, oil refinery industry, and local supply chains. By 2050, we intend to implement this technology in domestic and international industrial production lines that manufacture H₂ on a larger scale. We anticipate a market size of 8 trillion yen ($73 billion) in Japan and 160 trillion yen ($1.46 trillion) worldwide.
ORIGINALITYUniqueness, Passion for Development
Reducing Energy Consumption with an Original Technology that Directly Uses Crude Hydrogen
Conventional hydrogen-use technologies rely on expensive metal catalysts such as platinum and palladium. These catalysts lose their activity due to impurities, making it impossible to use crude hydrogen directly. As a result, a multi-stage hydrogen purification process that consumes large amounts of energy is essential. In contrast, our research has developed the original technology that can apply crude hydrogen directly by using a unique boron-containing catalyst. This innovative technology reduces energy consumption and achieves hydrogen purification and storage without relying on precious metals.
VISIONDream, Outlook, Business Image
Advancing Sustainability Through Industrially Valuable H₂ Production Systems
Our research will realize a sustainable technology for supplying cost-effective and highly competitive H₂. This innovative solution seamlessly integrates with existing technologies and is easily scalable, unlocking the untapped industrial potential of crude hydrogen, which has been previously limited by its low commercial value. By enabling the efficient use of carbon-based resources such as biomass and waste in H₂ production industries, our technology contributes to the realization of a sustainable society. As a resource-scarce nation, Japan will find this technology increasingly crucial in the future, driving progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable world.
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