A review on mechanistic kinetic models of ethanol steam reforming for hydrogen production using a fixed bed reactor

Abstract

Hydrogen is considered as the main energy genesis of the future. Many applications have been considered for the use of hydrogen as an energy source, especially in the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Ethanol steam reforming (ESR) is considered to be the most viable technology, because ethanol can be produced from a bio-refinery which can be easily distributed and controlled. The kinetics of ESR have been studied based on different noble metals as well as non-noble metals using supporters in the form of metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, spinel, pervoskite, hydrotalcite, etc. The Eley–Rideal (ER) mechanism and the Langamuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson (LHHW) mechanism have been used to express the kinetics of ESR. Different catalysts will follow different types of kinetics depending on the reaction path and the kind of model preferred for the development of the kinetics. LHHW mechanism is preferred over the ER mechanism due to its accuracy and the highest activation energy associated with it. This study reviews the generalized mechanistic kinetics for the ESR using fixed bed reactor to produce hydrogen.