The present invention is an improved process for the storage and delivery
of hydrogen by the reversible hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of an organic
compound wherein the organic compound is initially in its hydrogenated
state. The improvement in the route to generating hydrogen is in the
dehydrogenation step and recovery of the dehydrogenated organic compound
resides in the following steps: introducing a hydrogenated organic
compound to a microchannel reactor incorporating a dehydrogenation
catalyst; effecting dehydrogenation of said hydrogenated organic compound
under conditions whereby said hydrogenated organic compound is present as
a liquid phase; generating a reaction product comprised of a liquid phase
dehydrogenated organic compound and gaseous hydrogen; separating the
liquid phase dehydrogenated organic compound from gaseous hydrogen; and,
recovering the hydrogen and liquid phase dehydrogenated organic compound.