Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC)
Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) systems offer a very attractive way to store and transport hydrogen that links unsteady energy production from renewable sources with the vision of a sustainable, CO2-free, hydrogen-based energy system. Hydrogen is chemically bound in the LOHC chemicals by hydrogenation of unsaturated bonds in the carrier. LOHCs can be charged and discharged with considerable amounts of hydrogen in cyclic, catalytic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes. As their physico-chemical properties are very similar to diesel, today’s infrastructure for liquid fuels can be used for their handling thus greatly facilitating the step-wise transition from today’s fossil system to a cleaner renewable energy supply for both, stationary and mobile applications. Research in this area has led to first pilot scale applications in recent years. Many different chemicals can be used as LOHC. In cooperation with the Bavarian Hydrogen Center (BHC) and the working group of Prof. Dr. med. Peter Wasserscheid, we are looking for structures that, in addition to an optimal technical performance, also have the lowest possible hazard potential for humans and the environment. For this purpose we examine among others (eco)toxicological profiles and biodegradability in different environmental compartments. In addition to the pure LOHC substances we also take into account complex mixtures of substances resulting from technical processes.
You want to know more about how LOHCs work? Are interested in the environmentally relevant research results?
Read further:
Markiewicz M., Zhang Y.-Q., Empl M., Lykaki M., Thöming J., Steinberg P. and Stolte S. (2018) Hazard assessment of quinaldine-, alkylcarbazole-, benzene- and toluene-based liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHCs) systems. Accepted for publication in Energy & Environmental Science. DOI: 10.1039/C8EE01696H
Markiewicz M., Zhang Y.Q., Bösmann A., Brückner N., Thöming J., Wasserscheid P., Stolte S. (2015) Environmental and Health Impact Assessment of Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) systems - Challenges and Preliminary Results. Energy & Environmental Science 8, 1035-1045. Open Access
Zhang Y.-Q., Markiewicz M., Filser J., Stolte S. (2018) Toxicity of a Quinaldine-Based Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) System toward Soil Organisms Arthrobacter globiformis and Folsomia candida. Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (1), 258-265.
contact: Dr. Marta Markiewicz
Dr. Ya-Qi Zhang