An electrochemical reactor comprising an electrolyte compartment wherein at least one of the side walls of the electrolyte compartment is an electrode and an opposite side wall comprises a separator element. Further there is a plurality of electrically conductive granules forming a working electrode for a electrochemical main reaction in the electrolyte compartment and enclosed in the electrolyte compartment. The granules comprise a first material exhibiting at least a first activation overpotential for an electrochemical side reaction within a distance d from the separator element. The electrochemical reactor comprises a spacer element for maintaining the granules at least at a distance d from the separator element on the electrolyte-facing side of the separator element. The spacer element is electrically conductive and comprises a second material exhibiting a second activation overpotential for the electrochemical side reaction within a distance d from the separator element and is larger than the first activation overpotential.

Herein discussed is a method of producing hydrogen or carbon monoxide comprising introducing a waste gas having a total combustible species (TCS) content of no greater than 60 vol % into an electrochemical (EC) reactor, wherein the EC reactor comprises a mixed-conducting membrane, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase. Also disclosed herein is an integrated hydrogen production system comprising a waste gas source and an electrochemical (EC) reactor comprising a mixed-conducting membrane, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase, wherein the waste gas source is configured to send its exhaust to the EC reactor, wherein the exhaust has a total combustible species (TCS) content of no greater than 60 vol %.

Herein discussed is a method of producing hydrogen or carbon monoxide comprising introducing a waste gas having a total combustible species (TCS) content of no greater than 60 vol % into an electrochemical (EC) reactor, wherein the EC reactor comprises a mixed-conducting membrane, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase. Also disclosed herein is an integrated hydrogen production system comprising a waste gas source and an electrochemical (EC) reactor comprising a mixed-conducting membrane, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase, wherein the waste gas source is configured to send its exhaust to the EC reactor, wherein the exhaust has a total combustible species (TCS) content of no greater than 60 vol %.

Herein discussed is a method of producing hydrogen comprising introducing a first stream comprising a fuel to an electrochemical (EC) reactor having a mixed-conducting membrane, introducing a second stream comprising water to the reactor, reducing the water in the second stream to produce hydrogen, and recycling at least portion of the produced hydrogen to the first stream, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase; and wherein the first stream and the second stream do not come in contact with each other in the reactor.

Herein discussed is a method of producing hydrogen comprising introducing a first stream comprising a fuel to an electrochemical (EC) reactor having a mixed-conducting membrane, introducing a second stream comprising water to the reactor, reducing the water in the second stream to produce hydrogen, and recycling at least portion of the produced hydrogen to the first stream, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase; and wherein the first stream and the second stream do not come in contact with each other in the reactor.

A method of preparing a reinforced separator comprising the steps of:—providing a porous support (6) on a pre-wetted casting drum (23);—applying a dope solution (3) including a polymer resin and hydrophilic inorganic particles on a side of the porous support other than the side of the porous support in contact with the pre-wetted casting drum;—performing phase inversion (9, 1) of the applied polymer solution thereby obtaining a reinforced separator; and—removing the reinforced separator (7) from the casting drum; wherein the casting drum is pre-wetted with a non-solvent for the polymer resin.

A method of preparing a reinforced separator comprising the steps of:—providing a porous support (6) on a pre-wetted casting drum (23);—applying a dope solution (3) including a polymer resin and hydrophilic inorganic particles on a side of the porous support other than the side of the porous support in contact with the pre-wetted casting drum;—performing phase inversion (9, 1) of the applied polymer solution thereby obtaining a reinforced separator; and—removing the reinforced separator (7) from the casting drum; wherein the casting drum is pre-wetted with a non-solvent for the polymer resin.

Electrochemical cells for the production of hydrogen from liquid fuels and methods of operating the cells to produce hydrogen and electricity are provided. The electrochemical cells are solid state cells that incorporate a thermochemical conversion catalyst and a hydrogen oxidation catalyst into the anode and utilize solid acid electrolytes. This cell design integrates thermally driven chemical conversion of a starting fuel with electrochemical removal of hydrogen from the conversion reaction zone.

Electrochemical cells for the production of hydrogen from liquid fuels and methods of operating the cells to produce hydrogen and electricity are provided. The electrochemical cells are solid state cells that incorporate a thermochemical conversion catalyst and a hydrogen oxidation catalyst into the anode and utilize solid acid electrolytes. This cell design integrates thermally driven chemical conversion of a starting fuel with electrochemical removal of hydrogen from the conversion reaction zone.

A separator for alkaline water electrolysis (1) comprising a porous hydrophilic polymer layer (20), the porous hydrophilic polymer layer comprising a polymer resin and hydrophilic inorganic particles, characterized in that the inorganic particles are barium-sulfate particles having a particle size D50 of 0.7 pm or less.