A Novel Integrated Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Solar Catalytic Reforming Method for Enhanced Hydrogen Generation from Biomass

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Short energy intensive hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of biomass in the presence of Ni salt catalyst selectively generates H2 in the product gas and biocrude mainly containing C1-C3 acids (formic, lactic, propionic, acetic), HMF and furfural. The H2 mass balance indicated that only 3.12 vol% H2 in biomass (cotton) was released as product gas; 48.7 vol% was captured in the C1-C3 acids while the remainder H2 was trapped in oxygenated compounds and char. Continuing HTL after 120 minutes caused no further increase in gas phase H2 yields. To enhance the H2 yields with minimal energy input, solar photocatalytic reforming (PR) of the biocrude with Pt/TiO2 catalyst was investigated. Photocatalysis of activated carbon (AC) treated biocrude generated an additional H2, 17.82 wt%. H2 yields from photoreforming of simulated biocrude acid mixture and actual biocrude were compared. Enhanced H2 generation was observed with integrated HTL-PR of biomass.