Renewable hydrogen production from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste through a novel carbon-negative process concept.

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is one of the prevailing negative carbon emission technologies. Ensuring a hydrogen economy is essential to achieving the carbon-neutral goal. In this regard, the present study contributed by proposing a carbon negative process for producing high purity hydrogen from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). This integrated process comprises anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, catalytic reforming, water-gas shift, and pressure swing adsorption technologies. By focusing on Sweden, the proposed process was developed and evaluated through sensitivity analysis, mass and energy balance calculations, techno-economic assessment, and practical feasibility analysis. By employing the optimum operating conditions from the sensitivity analysis, 72.2 kg H 2 and 701.47 kg negative CO 2 equivalent emissions were obtained by treating 1 ton of dry OFMSW. To achieve these results, 6621.4 MJ electricity and 325 kg of steam were utilized during this process. Based on this techno-economic assessment of implementing the proposed process in Stockholm, when the negative CO 2 equivalent emissions are recognized as income, the internal rate of return and the discounted payback period can be obtained as 26% and 4.3 years, respectively. Otherwise, these values will be 13% and 7.2 years. • Treat organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) for Hydrogen production. • Optimum operating condition selected from sensitivity analysis. • 72.2 kg H 2 and 701.47 kg negative emissions are achieved per ton OFMSW. • 25.5 kWh electricity is needed to produce 1 kg of H 2. • The process can be profitable in Stockholm with payback in 4.3 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]