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LOHC, a Compelling Hydrogen Transport and Storage Solution

Industrialized and high energy demand regions may lack the potential to produce renewable energy required for producing sufficient quantities of Low Carbon Hydrogen at competitive cost. Thus, importing Hydrogen may be necessary after maximizing their own renewable energy production.
LOHC Axens

Hydrogen is becoming an essential vector of the global energy mix as we move towards renewable energy and decarbonization. However, the transportation and storage of Hydrogen pose logistical and safety challenges.

Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC) offer a compelling solution for establishing a cleaner and more sustainable Hydrogen supply chain.

How Does It Work? LOHC:

Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier

The family of carrier selected is Toluene (“TL”) and MethylCycloHexane (“MCH”). These carriers are preferred due to their low toxicity, chemical stability, and ease of handling and storage. They can be stored in existing oil infrastructures at ambient conditions without losses during transport or storage, offering significant advantages over other options. 

The concept is binding H2 to TL. This step is called hydrogenation and is performed at the location where H2 is produced. Then liquid MCH is easily and safely stored and transported to importing regions. At this location, chemical binding is broken to release H2 and TL. This step is called dehydrogenation. TL is then returned to the producing country to complete the cycle. 

To propose the complete LOHC chain, Axens allied in 2022 with Chiyoda Corporation, each Company offering TL Hydrogenation and SPERA MCH DeHydrogenation respectively.  
Alliance Axens Chiyoda

Select an application

Process Technologies

Toluene (TL) Hydrogenation

Technology

Axens has in its portfolio two industrial technologies for aromatics Hydrogenation:  

  • Heterogeneous catalysis technology Benfree™: developed to limit Benzene content in commercial gasoline with 50 references, 
  • Homogeneous catalysis technology for pure benzene Hydrogenation: to produce high purity cyclohexane for Nylon production with 35 references. 

Considering technical and economical comparison, Axens considers that for Toluene the best option is homogeneous type Hydrogenation for the following reasons: 

  • Flexibility / robustness: catalyst make-up rate adjusted in function of the plant capacity and in function of the content of poisonous impurities in the Toluene and Hydrogen feeds.  
  • Reliability: No catalyst changeout in case of catalyst severe poisoning.   
  • Safety: In case of runaways, the reactor liquid hold-up constitutes the simplest safety device with vaporization of the liquid. 
  • Performance / efficiency: exceptionally high selectivity and purity of MethylCycloHexane (MCH), leading to maximum Hydrogen pick-up and flexibility in dealing with impurities. 

With several decades providing similar technologies, catalysts and services for Petrochemical application, Axens currently has an unmatched experience in pure aromatics Hydrogenation. 

Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) Solution

Catalysts & Grading Materials

HC-1025

Cyclohexane Production Catalysts

HC-1025 Catalyst achieves Toluene Hydrogenation in homogeneous liquid phase. It is used in the process of Toluene to MethylCycloHexane in the liquid phase first reactor. 

Characteristics Proprietary
Shape Liquid
Request
Technical Data Sheet Safety Data Sheet

LD-143

Cyclohexane Production Catalysts

LD-143 is used for the complete Hydrogenation in liquid phase of Toluene to high purity MethylCycloHexane. It can be used in fixed bed reactor, placed downstream of the main Hydrogenation reactor. 

Characteristics Ni, Al₂O₃
Shape Beads
Request
Technical Data Sheet Safety Data Sheet

Process Technologies

Axens’ MCH DeHydrogenation, “the shortest way”

The most cost effective and rapid way to DeHydrogenate MethylCycloHexane (MCH) is to retrofit an idle Catalytic Reforming unit historically designed to DeHydrogenate fossil naphtha into high octane and aromatic rich Gasoline basis. While adapting a few pieces of equipment as well as operating conditions, it is possible in a short time frame to release Hydrogen from MCH.  

As a Licensor Axens has an impressive know-how in retrofitting Refining & Petrochemicals units and especially Catalytic Reformers. 

Catalytic Reforming Solutions

Catalysts & Grading Materials

Symphony® PR-156

Symphony® Catalyst family uses an enhanced and optimized Alumina Carrier to more effectively DeHydrogenate MCH into Hydrogen and Toluene. Thanks to its unbalanced formulation Symphony® PR-156 is the Catalyst of choice for semi regenerative unit providing maximum cycle length. 

Characteristics Unbalanced multipromoted Pt, Re on high density Al2O3
Shape Cylindrical Extrudate
Request
Technical Data Sheet Safety Data Sheet

Symphony® CR-157

Symphony® CR-157 relies on an enhanced and optimized Alumina Carrier to more effectively DeHydrogenate MCH into Hydrogen and Toluene. 

Characteristics Multipromoted Pt, Sn on high density Al2O3
Shape Sphere
Request
Technical Data Sheet Safety Data Sheet

Process Technologies

Chiyoda’s SPERA Hydrogen, “on purpose” MCH DeHydrogenation

Thanks to our Cooperation, Axens can offer SPERA Hydrogen, Chiyoda’s technology for grass roots DeHydrogenation projects, which will provide your project with the best performance. 

Axens / Chiyoda, the right team for your LOHC project

Axens Chiyoda

Axens / Chiyoda LOHC Solution
Unlocking Your Potential

With Axens

Unmatched Expertise in Hydrogenation

Unmatched Expertise in Hydrogenation

Hydrogenation technologies and Catalysts are definitely Axens’ blockbuster with the majority of Hydrogenations downstream Steam Cracking Complexes (purification of C3, C4 and Pyrolysis Gasoline) accounting for more than 750 industrial references.

In addition, we licensed and designed 35 Hydrogenations of pure aromatic cuts prior to advice clients during the commissioning and start-up as well as supporting them on regular basis for the operation follow-up.

Two different DeHydrogenation Options

For any project, Axens Customer can gradually ramp-up Hydrogen release while at a first stage retrofitting idle Catalytic Reformer to minimize initial Capex and lead-time, and then increase project size while implementing a new grass roots SPERA Dehydrogenation from Chiyoda.
The right team for your LOHC project:

• One-stop shop allowing to acquire both Toluene Hydrogenation and MCH Dehydrogenation technologies
• Technologies proven either widely in Petrochemical Industry for Hydrogenation or with semi-industrial demonstration for Dehydrogenation
• Skills complementarity between a Licensor and an EPC
• Tight link with Customer thanks to location complementarity between Europe (France) and Asia (Japan) which are the two main Hydrogen-demanding regions

Advantages of (MethylCycloHexane ) MCH-LOHC

Beyond its easy manipulation compared to other carriers (safety, liquid at ambient conditions …), MCH-LOHC demonstrates very attractive economics compared to other Hydrogen transportation routes.

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