Novel carbon-neutral hydrogen production process of steam methane reforming integrated with desalination wastewater-based CO2 utilization.

Steam methane reforming (SMR) process is facing serious greenhouse effect problems because of the significant CO 2 emissions. To reduce pollution caused by gaseous emissions, desalination wastewater can be used because it contains highly concentrated useful mineral ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ , which react with carbonate ions. This study proposes a novel SMR process for carbon-neutral hydrogen production integrated with desalination wastewater-based CO 2 utilization. A process model for the design of a novel SMR process is proposed; it comprises the following steps: (1) SMR process for hydrogen production; and (2) desalination wastewater recovery for CO 2 utilization. In the process model, the CO 2 from the SMR process was captured using the Na+ ion, and the captured ionic CO 2 was carbonated using the Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions in desalination wastewater. The levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) was assessed to demonstrate the economic feasibility of the proposed process. Therefore, 94.5 % of the CO 2 from the SMR process was captured, and the conversion of MgCO 3 and CaCO 3 was determined to be 60 % and 99 %, respectively. In addition, the CO 2 emission via the proposed process was determined to be 0.016 kgCO 2 /kgH 2 , and the LCOH was calculated to be 2.6 USD/kgH 2. [Display omitted] • Steam reforming process was integrated with desalination wastewater process. • Feed stock restriction of the pollutant absorbent is possible to be solved. • Environmental contamination by desalination wastewater is prevented. • 94 % of CO 2 from the steam reforming process is capture and utilized. • Levelized cost of hydrogen production was 2.6 USD/kgH 2 by CO 2 and SO x utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]