Study On Hydrogen Production Via Sorption Enhanced Reforming Of Biomass Derivatives

Hydrogen fuel cells get the attention of the researchers because of its unique advantages. It is not applied on a large scale due to the constraint of the hydrogen storage system for automotive hydrogen fuel cells. Therefore, researchers have proposed to produce hydrogen for fuel cell directly via reforming process of liquid fuel. Biomass derivatives, such as ethanol, glycerol and acetic acid, are becoming the favorable fuel for fuel cell vehicles because of the advantages of environmental protection, renewable and low-carbon chain. Moreover, high concentrations of H2could be obtained via reforming process with the presence of carbon dioxide absorbent.In this work, Ni/γ-Al2O3was prepared by impregnation method. The proper temperature for the production of hydrogen via reforming process of ethanol, glycerin and acetic acid with Ni/γ-Al2O3catalyst was examined. It found that the proper temperature to produce H2was at600℃.The samples of CaO, NiCa, Co-NiCa and Fe-NiCa were prepared by sol-gel method. Those particles with a size of0.3-0.7mm were selected for the following experiments. The influence of CaO and multifunctional catalysts was examined. It found that the concentration of CO decreased significantly and the CH4concentration increased signally in the sorption enhanced reforming process of ethanol, glycerin and acetic acid with CaO. In the post-breakthrough period, the concentration of CO was further reduced by using NiCa due to the elimination of acid sites of Al2O3. The doping of Co and Fe increased the H2concentration but decreased the CH4concentration in the sorption enhanced steam reforming process (SESR) of ethanol, glycerin and acetic acid. In addition, the CH4concentration also decreased in the sorption enhanced oxidative steam reforming process (SEOSR) of ethanol, glycerin and acetic acid with the use of Fe-NiCa. CaO, NiCa, Co-NiCa and Fe-NiCa were characterized by XRD and SEM. It could be found that Co and Fe could improve the sinter-resistant of NiCa.Through the research, the optimum temperature was determined for reforming process with Ni/γ-Al2O3catalyst and multifunctional catalysts. It was found that the doping of Co and Fe could inhibit the production of CH4. Compared with SEOSR at 600℃, SESR of ethanol, glycerol and acetic acid was more conducive to produce high concentrations of H2(>93%).