Effects of Artificial River Water on PEM Water Electrolysis Performance

• Published in: Catalysts 2022-09, Vol.12 (9), p.934
• Main Authors: Yoshimura, Ryoya, Wai, SoeHtet, Ota, Yasuyuki, Nishioka, Kensuke, Suzuki, Yoshihiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Analysis; Calcium ions; Capital costs; Catalysts; Chemical reactions; Clean energy; Contamination; Divalent cations; Electric potential; Electrolysis; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Energy; Force and energy; Fossil fuels; Green technology; Hydrogen; Hydrogen as fuel; Hydrogen production; Membranes; Osmosis; Renewable energy sources; Sodium; Voltage; Water supply
• ISSN: 2073-4344; 2073-4344
• DOI: 10.3390/catal12090934

Hydrogen, a clean and renewable energy source, is a promising substitute for fossil fuels. Electricity-driven water electrolysis is an attractive pathway for clean hydrogen production. Accordingly, the development of electrolysis cells has drawn researchers’ attention to capital costs related to noble catalyst reduction and membrane degradation by the contaminations. In the literature, polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) have been studied on single cations contamination. In this study, we investigated the performance of a PEM on monovalent and divalent cation contamination by feed water. Artificial river water, called soft water, was used to analyze the effect of impurities on the PEM. The results demonstrated that the operating voltage drastically increased and induced cell failure with increasing Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentrations; however, it did not increase for Na+ and K+ after increase in voltage. Therefore, divalent cations have a stronger affinity than monovalent cations to degrade PEM and should be effectively excluded from the feed water.