Energy giant Shell has worked with BASF to complete an essential stage of the green hydrogen purification process by qualifying the chemical company’s green hydrogen purification technologies, making it eligible for use in Shell’s global green hydrogen projects.
BASF’s Puristar R0-20 is used to remove remnant oxygen from the product hydrogen by converting it to water in the DeOxo Unit, before the Sorbead Adsorption Technology (SAT) dehydrates the hydrogen.
Following the removal of impurities, the hydrogen can then be used either as an energy source or chemical feedstock.
BASF claims a higher efficiency rating for its purification technology, with its SAT leaving a minial energy footprint compared to altnerative materials, in addition to having a high capacity for water and low regeneration temperatures compared to activated alumina or molecular sieves.
“BASF shares the ambition of Shell to work towards net-zero emissions in the future,” said Detlef Ruff, Senior Vice President, Process Catalysts, BASF.
“Green hydrogen is a major component in achieving this goal and the de-risking of Puristar R0-20 and SAT for Shell’s projects will support us on our way.”
By creating a new DeOxo design tool that focuses on optimising DeOxo units operating downstream of an electrolyser, the company is able to design smaller DeOxo vessels.
Last year, Shell incorporated BASF’s Sorbead technology into its carbon reduction plan by applying SAT to its pre- and post-combustion carbon capture and storage (CCS) activities.
