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About REB Research & Consulting

REB Research & Consulting was founded in 1987 by Robert Buxbaum to consult on hydrogen separations and membrane reactors. With the aid of an SBIR grant, we developed a new type of hydrogen purification membrane, and began manufacturing. We aim to combine the best quality equipment with strong customer support. We serve laboratories and larger manufacturers.


Below, Dr. Buxbaum with four generations of membrane-based hydrogen purifiers. The largest module, right, is 3 years old and had an output of 0.2 slpm. The purifier being held is current, and outputs 8 slpm of hydrogen at ppb purity. Our purifiers range from 0.75 liter/min to 100 liters/min, with custom units available.
Dr. Buxbaum w/modules

REB Research also makes hydrogen getters generally involving palladium-coated vanadium alloys, and is the only commercial manufacturer of membrane reactors used to increase the conversion and decrease the volume in reforming processes. See our essay on why membrane reactors are so beneficial for compact, efficient hydrogen generation. Alternately see our load following paper
to see how nicely membrane reactor hydrogen can be used to feed fuel cells. Membrane reactors even provide some inherent load following, since power demand in the fuel cell affects the hydrogen pressure, and this affects effective reaction rate in the appropriate direction.

About Robert E. Buxbaum, PhD, PE

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EDUCATION
  • Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, 1981

  • Ph.D. Dissertation: "The Separation of Tritium from the Liquid Lithium Breeder-Blanket of a Fusion Reactor: The Use of Yttrium Metal as a Getter," E. F. Johnson Advisor.

  • B.E. Chemical Engineering, Cooper Union, 1976

CERTIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
  • Professional Engineer, State of Michigan License 34001.

  • President, REB Research & Consulting 1987-Present.
    Specializes in hydrogen separations and membrane reactors. Manufactures Mr. Hydrogen�, hydrogen purifiers.

  • Associate Professor Michigan State University, 1981 - Present, (currently adjoint)
    Supervised research in separations and thermodynamics (particularly involving hydrogen). Collaborated on several projects in neuronal growth. Taught thermodynamics, (undergraduate, graduate, and advanced). Also taught courses in engineering materials, biological thermodynamics, heat transfer, polymer science and absorption and liquid extraction.

  • Argonne National Laboratory, 1986 (Summer)
    Visiting researcher in material science of nuclear fusion reactors, corrosion inhibition and metal coatings.

  • Research Assistant, Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, 1976-81
    Conducted research on separation and materials science problems of fusion power reactors.

  • Research Consultant, Gordion Associates, NYC., NY 1976

  • Electronic Design Consultant, Dahill Electronics, Brooklyn, NY. 1975

PATENTS
  • "Hydrogen Generator"; Patent 6,461,408, October 8, 2002

  • "High Temperature Gas Purification Apparatus"; Patent 6,168,650, January 2, 2001.

  • "Apparatus and Method for Gas Extraction"; Patent 5,931,987, Aug. 3, 1999.

  • "High Temperature Gas Purification System"; Patent 5,888,273, March 30, 1999.

  • "Method for Plating Palladium"; Patent 5,149,420, Sept. 22, 1992.

  • "Composite Metal Membrane for Hydrogen Extraction", Patent 5,108,724, Nov. 27, 1991.


SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS
(of 64 articles published)
  • R. Buxbaum and H. Lei, �Power output and load following in a fuel cell fueled by membrane reactor hydrogen�, J. Power Sources, 5467 (2003) 1-5 see preprint.

  • R.E. Buxbaum, D.L. Smith, and J.-H. Park, �Hydrogen Solubility in V-4Cr-4Ti Alloy� Journal of Nuclear Materials, 307-311 (2002) 576-579.

  • Y.S. Lin and R.E. Buxbaum, Metal Membranes Encyclopedia of Separation Science. Wilson ID, Adlard ER, Cooke M and Poole CF (Eds) Vol 7:3365:3372. London: Academic Press (2000).

  • R.E.Buxaum "Membrane Reactor Advantages for Methanol Reforming and Similar Reactions" Separation Science and Technol., 34 (1999) 2113-2123. see preprint

  • J.W. Hen, F. Feng, MM Geng, R. Buxbaum, and D.O. Northwood, "Electrochemical characteristics of the interface between the metal hydride electrode and electrolyte for an advanced nickel metal hydride battery", J. Power Sources 80 (1999) 39- 45.

  • R.E. Buxbaum, J.H. Park and D.L.Smith, "Hydrogen Transport and Embrittlement of Palladium Coated Vanadium Chromium Titanium Alloys," J. Nuclear Materials 233-237 (1996) 510-512.

  • R.E. Buxbaum and A.B. Kinney, "Hydrogen Transport through Tubular Membranes of Palladium-Coated Tantalum and Niobium" I&EC Research, 35 (1996) 530-536.

  • R.E. Buxbaum and T.L. Marker, "Hydrogen Transport through Nonporous Membranes of Palladium-Coated Niobium, Tantalum and Vanadium," J. Membrane Sci., 85 (1993) 29-38.

  • R.E. Buxbaum and P.C. Hsu, "Measurements of Diffusive and Surface Transport Resistances for Deuterium in Palladium-Coated Zirconium Membranes." J. Nuclear Materials, 189 (1992) 183-192.

  • C.L. Stokes and R.E. Buxbaum, "Analysis of Palladium Coatings to Remove H-Isotopes from Zirconium Fuel Rods in CANDU-PHW Reactors: Thermal and Neutron Diffusion Effects," Nuclear Technology, 98 (1992) 207-216.

  • P. Lamoureux, R.E. Buxbaum, and S.R. Heidemann , "Direct Evidence that Growth Cores Pull," Nature, 340 (1989) 159-162.

  • C.C. Brown and R.E. Buxbaum, "Kinetics and Hydrogen Absorption in Alpha Titanium: A Surface Energy Model," Metall. Trans., A19, Volume 14 (1988) 25-27.

  • K. Yam, D.K. Anderson and R.E. Buxbaum, "Local Viscosity Effects in Diffusion Processes," Science, 241 (1988) 330-332.

  • R.E. Buxbaum, S. Weiss, T. Denerill, and S.R. Heidemann, "Actin and Microtubule Suspensions as Indeterminate Fluids," Science, 235 (1987) 1511-1514.

  • C.-Z. Hsu and R.E. Buxbaum, "Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Diffusion for Tritium Extraction from Breeder-Blanket Fluids at Low Concentrations," J. Nuc. Mat., 141-143 (1986) 238-243<

  • C.-Z. Hsu and R.E. Buxbaum, "Electroless and Immersion Plating of Palladium on Zirconium", J. Electrochem. Soc., 132 (1985) 2419-2420.

Government Grants

  • Improved Coated-Metal Hydrogen Extraction Membrane, DOE SBIR DE-FG02-93ER81625, $600,000 1994-1996.

  • Low Cost Technique for Testing Ceramic Insulator Coatings DE-FG02-97-ER82467, $100,000, 1997-1998

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