Upgrading di biogas/biosyngas a idrogeno verde con cattura e separazione simultanea di CO2 mediante processi catalitici potenziati dall'assorbimento

The research work addresses the challenge of energy decarbonisation through the development of processes for upgrading biogas/biosyngas to green hydrogen with simultaneous capture and separation of CO2. The work focuses on the Sorption-Enhanced Water-Gas Shift (SEWGS) process, an innovative approach that combines the water-gas shift reaction with in-situ CO2 capture, thereby achieving improved hydrogen yield and facilitating carbon dioxide separation in a single step. The study pursued three main dimensions of innovation: (i) process intensification for hydrogen production through SEWGS technology, which remains underdeveloped at the commercial level; (ii) the use of biomass as feedstock instead of fossil fuels, to obtain products classifiable as "green"; (iii) the sustainable design of sorbent and catalyst materials according to Green Chemistry and Green Engineering principles. The methodology included experimental laboratory activities at the University of L'Aquila for the synthesis and characterisation of sorbent-catalyst materials, modelling analysis and experimental validation at University College London. The experimental campaign identified two promising materials, 20KHT and MeHT, for SEWGS applications and directly supported the mechanical design work conducted at ITALFLUID COSMEP s.r.l for the development of a lab-scale pilot reactor aimed at process optimisation, establishing a crucial link between laboratory research and industrial implementation. The research results demonstrate that the SEWGS process represents a more sustainable alternative to current industrial practices, enabling the capture of CO2 in a high-purity stream. The integration of this technology with anaerobic digestion and gasification plants fed with biomass further enhances the sustainability of the high-purity hydrogen and CO2 produced. This study significantly contributes to the development of a clean, efficient, and scalable pathway for hydrogen production that is aligned with global decarbonisation goals and promotes a circular economy through the valorisation of organic waste.