Industrial waste gases as a resource for sustainable hydrogen production: Resource availability, production potential, challenges, and prospects

Abstract

Industrial sectors, pivotal for the economic prosperity of nations, rely heavily on affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly energy sources. Industries like iron and steel, oil refineries, and coal-fired power plants, while instrumental to national economies, are also the most significant contributors to waste gases that contain substantial volumes of carbon monoxide (CO). CO can be converted to a highly efficient and carbon free fuel, hydrogen (H2) through a well-known water gas shift reaction. However, the untapped potential of H2 from waste industrial streams is yet to be explored. This is the first article that investigates the potential of H2 production from industrial waste gases. The available resource (i.e., CO) and its H2 production potential are estimated. The article also provides insights into the principal challenges and potential avenues for long-term adoption. The results showed that 249.14 MTPY of CO are available to produce 17.44 MTPY of H2 annually. This suggests a significant potential for H2 production from waste gases to revolutionize industrial waste management and contribute significantly towards Sustainable Development Goals 7, 9, and 13ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all and taking decisive climate action, respectively.

Keywords

• Waste gases
• Hydrogen
• CO fermentation
• Microbial conversion
• H2 liquefaction