Thesis

A comparative study of biomass electrolysis and PEM water electrolysis for hydrogen production

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2026
Thesis identifier
  • T18101
Person Identifier (Local)
  • 202280021
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Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • This thesis presents a comparative simulation study of hydrogen production via polyoxometalate (POM)-catalysed biomass electrolysis and Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) water electrolysis. Conventional fossil-fuel-based hydrogen production is associated with carbon dioxide emissions and environmental impacts, while water electrolysis provides a cleaner route when supplied by renewable electricity. PEM water electrolysis is commercially relevant and compatible with renewable power, but its wider application is still limited by electricity demand, noble-metal catalyst requirements, membrane cost, and stack durability. To explore an alternative route, this study investigates POM-catalysed biomass electrolysis using cellulose as the representative biomass feedstock. In this process, POM acts as a redox mediator under acidic conditions. Biomass oxidation can replace or partially avoid the kinetically demanding oxygen evolution reaction at the anode, which may reduce cell voltage, electricity consumption, and anode catalyst requirements. Aspen Plus and Aspen Custom Modeler were used to develop a preliminary, literature-supported process modelling framework for comparing the two routes under a consistent modelling basis. The PEM water electrolysis model was used as the reference case, while the POM-catalysed biomass electrolysis model was developed by adapting the electrolysis framework to an H₃PO₄-based acidic system containing the POM-mediated biomass oxidation pathway. The comparison focuses on key model-predicted indicators, including cell voltage, current density, hydrogen production rate, specific work, Faraday efficiency, hydrogen crossover into the oxygen stream, denoted as HTO in this study, and electricity-cost contribution. A dynamic response analysis was also carried out for the PEM system. The simulation results indicate that, under the assumptions and representative operating conditions used in this study, POM-catalysed biomass electrolysis may reduce the electricity-related energy demand compared with PEM water electrolysis. The electricity-cost calculation also suggests a lower electricity-cost contribution for the POM-catalysed route. Overall, this thesis provides an Aspen-based comparison framework for evaluating the two electrolysis routes for hydrogen production.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Li, Jun
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DOI

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