Tanaka Precious Metal has developed a metallic membrane that is said to already achieve high permeability for hydrogen at around 100 degrees Celsius. The palladium membrane bears the name HPM-L111. It is intended to make it possible to separate high-purity hydrogen quickly and at significantly lower temperatures than before, thereby saving energy.
Metallic membranes are frequently used for the purification of hydrogen, but typically require temperatures of at least 300 degrees in order to become permeable to hydrogen, according to Tanaka. One example from the Tanaka product range is the PdCu40, an alloy of 60 percent palladium and 40 percent copper with particularly high hydrogen permeability – which, however, requires temperatures of around 400 degrees to achieve this.
This has now been changed by means of a special surface treatment. Fine microstructures enlarge the surface area. This is said to increase the penetration speed of hydrogen, so that even at low temperatures more H2 molecules can pass through the membrane.
As fields of application, in addition to purification, Tanaka names hydrogen sensors (isolating other interfering gases), fuel cells, and the removal of hydrogen generated inside equipment from vacuum systems. According to the company, production at Tanaka Precious Metals is initially to be limited to around one hundred sample pieces per month, deliveries of which are said to have begun in March.
More information: tanaka-preciousmetals.com/de/
