A Highly Stable and Efficient Co–Mg–Sr Mixed Oxide Catalysts for Hydrogen Production from Glycerol Steam Reforming

Abstract

The production of hydrogen from glycerol steam reforming (GSR) was studied over a series of Co–Mg–Sr (CMS) mixed oxide catalysts. Co-precipitation method was adopted to prepare catalysts by varying the molar ratios of MgO–SrO and keeping Co3O4 content constant. The physico-chemical properties of the samples were investigated by BET surface area, X-ray diffraction, hydrogen chemisorption, temperature programmed reduction, temperature programmed desorption of CO2, Raman spectroscopy and CHNS analysis. The reforming activity depended on the composition of the metal oxides. The catalyst with Co–Mg–Sr molar ratio of 3:1:1 exhibited the highest catalytic activity at 700 °C. Glycerol was completely converted to gaseous products and showed 72% hydrogen yield. Catalytic activity of the catalysts was explained on the basis of cobalt particle size, basicity and metal oxides interaction. The catalysts basicity originating from MgO–SrO is also playing an important role in GSR. The present catalyst activity was unaltered even after 100 h of time on stream analysis.