Low Pressure Adsorbent for Recovery & Storage Vented Hydrogen, Phase I

A high performance fullerene-based adsorbent is proposed for recovery and storage hydrogen and separating helium via pressure-swing-adsorption (PSA) process. Research work performed at MER showed that the proposed adsorbent has an exceptionally high hydrogen adsorption capacity at low pressure and excellent separation factor relative to helium. During the Phase I program, the feasibility of using fullerene-based adsorbents for low-pressure recovery and storage will be determined. The H2/He separation factor, the purity of He, and the economics of the system will also be determined. The performance and cost of conceptual system, producing about 1000 to 100,000 gallon per day, will be estimated and compared to alternative system to demonstrate feasibility.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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