Patent ID: 6361896
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: B01D,C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
Apparatus for combined purification and compression of CO-containing hydrogen, comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) cell including a proton-conducting polymer membrane (3), an anode on one side and a cathode (4) on the other side of the membrane, the anode having a first side facing away from the membrane and a second side facing the membrane, the anode being in the form of a bilayer anode (5) which comprises a CO-oxidation-selective catalyst layer (1) on the side facing away from the membrane and an electrochemically active layer (2) for oxidizing the hydrogen to protons on the side facing the membrane, wherein the CO-oxidation-selective catalyst layer (1) of the bilayer anode (5) comprises an electrically conducting metal felt matrix (6) and an oxidic support material (7) which is coated with metallic CO-oxidation-selective catalyst particles (8) selected from the group consisting of gold, ruthenium, rhodium and alloys thereof, and further including a planar, porous gas distribution layer which is provided at the anode side and adjoins a current collector, so that the PEM cell is able to withstand differential pressures of at least about 10 bar.