The effect of H2S impurity upon the H permeation of Pd60Cu40/V–15Ni composite membranes was investigated at 473 to 673K. The H permeability of the membrane exhibited a good resistance to H2S impurity between 573 and 673K. However, below 573K, it decreased rapidly with increasing H2S content. The H permeability of the composite membrane could recover when H2S impurity was eliminated. On the other hand, H diffusion measurements showed that the H diffusion coefficient of the membrane was indifferent to H2S impurity at 473 to 673K. The decrease in H solubility below 573K, which resulted from the stronger adsorption of H2S molecules to the membrane surface at low temperatures and the consequent reduction in effective H2 adsorption sites, was supposed to be the main reason for the degradation of the H permeability of the composite membrane by H2S at low temperatures.

Hydrogen Permeation of Pd60Cu40 Alloy Covered V-15Ni Composite Membrane in Mixed Gases Containing H2S. J.Y.Yang, C.Nishimura, M.Komaki: Journal of Membrane Science, 2008, 309[1-2], 246-50