Toluene/methylcyclohexane as Green H2 Carrier

Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) are organic molecules which can undergo cyclic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation. Among all the possible choices of organic carriers, toluene is presently the most mature and extensively studied compound. The couple toluene (TOL)/methylcyclohexane (MCH) for H2 transport has been patented by Chiyoda Corporation. Their “AHEAD” project marked the first demonstration of intercontinental hydrogen transport through LOHC, moving 210 tonnes of hydrogen from Brunei to Japan. The cost drivers of the toluene/methylcyclohexane value chain are the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes. Therefore, their detailed technical assessment is of paramount importance for establishing their reliability as H2 transport alternatives. This chapter details the toluene hydrogenation and methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation sections and, considering the process simulation results, provide the economic assessment of each stage of the value chain.