Model-based membrane materials selection for sustainable hydrogen production from hydrocarbons

Adewole J. K., Adetayo M. B., AL Kharusi A. S., Oladipo H. B., Owoyale F. B.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol.207, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 207
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.153527
  • Journal Name: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Artic & Antarctic Regions, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, Environment Index, INSPEC
  • Keywords: CO2 inhibition, Hydrogen, Multi-objective optimization, Polymeric membranes, Syngas separation
  • Marmara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Polymeric membranes offer cost-effective and energy-efficient advantage for hydrogen separation from syngas and hydrocarbon (HC) feedstock. However, high H2 purity requirements coupled with the different membrane performance property interrelationships often make effective material selection difficult. To solve this problem, the model-based multi-objective optimization (MOO) approach has been used to analyze five different membranes sourced from literature. MOO is a function of performance index (PI) which is based on weighting factors (W) allocated to membrane properties depending on their degree of importance. In addition to inbound membrane properties of permeability, selectivity, a new performance property of CO2 inhibition has been proposed and investigated in this study. The results show that the MOO method allows an unbiased comparison and selection of membranes based on desired performance properties. It also shows that membrane ranking, in some cases, could be independent of allocated weights as observed for PLA and PEI membranes.