【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】Key dehydrogenation technology for toluene-methylcyclohexane organic liquid hydrogen storage systems was approved for use from 2031 to 2026

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Let’s give praise and support to the achievements made in China’s chemical engineering technology and equipment; your participation in discussions is the greatest encouragement. **********************【Ten Years of Progress in Chemical Engineering Equipment】Regular updates and summaries are available; feel free to join the discussions: https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html ***************** The key dehydrogenation technology for organic liquid hydrogen storage systems using toluene and methylcyclohexane has been approved. Recently, the research team led by Professor Guo Yong from East China University of Science and Technology/Shihezi University, in collaboration with Shaanxi Lixin New Energy Co., Ltd., completed the evaluation of this technological achievement. This achievement successfully brought about a breakthrough in key dehydrogenation technology, laying a solid foundation for industrial application. Hydrogen energy is a **key aspect of the green transformation of the energy structure, and overcoming the challenges related to storage and transportation is crucial for the scaled development of the hydrogen industry. The organic liquid hydrogen storage technology using toluene-methylcyclohexane has become a key focus of research in this industry, thanks to its advantages such as high hydrogen storage density, safety in storage and transportation, and compatibility with existing petrochemical logistics systems. This technology enables the fixation of hydrogen, which is difficult to store and transport, within the bulk chemical material toluene through a chemical reaction, thereby forming a stable liquid (methylcyclohexane). This liquid can be transported over long distances using existing infrastructure such as tank trucks and oil tankers, just like gasoline, in a safe and convenient manner. Upon reaching the destination, hydrogen is efficiently extracted for use through a dehydrogenation device, enabling low-cost and safe storage and transportation of hydrogen throughout the process. In the future, this technology can be scaled up rapidly to handle 5 tons of hydrogen per day or even more, enabling large-scale storage and transportation of hydrogen. The expert group conducted on-site inspections of the pilot plant and reviewed the technical documents. After discussions and inquiries, they unanimously agreed that this achievement represents China’s first pilot plant for the dehydration of methylcyclohexane at a rate of 200 kgH₂/d. The new catalyst exhibits excellent performance, the plant operates stably, and its key performance indicators exceed the design values, providing a viable solution for the large-scale, safe storage and transportation of green hydrogen. The evaluation committee agreed to approve the evaluation, concluding that the achievement is generally at an internationally advanced level. The holding of this evaluation meeting marks a crucial milestone in the transition of this technology from school laboratories to industrial application. These achievements not only align with the hydrogen energy industry and the \"dual carbon\" strategic plan, but they also overcome the challenges related to the long-distance storage and transportation of hydrogen, thereby supporting the implementation of the strategies for transporting hydrogen from the west to the east as well as the \"dual carbon\" goals; hence, they hold broad application prospects.