Cobalt aluminate spinel-derived catalysts for glycerol steam reforming

Abstract

Steam reforming of glycerol presents a promising possibility for the production of clean hydrogen. The steam reforming of glycerol (10 wt%) utilizing catalysts derived from cobalt aluminate spinel was examined at 550 °C, while the space–time covered 3.76–37.60 g·h/mol. Among the characterization techniques, glycerol desorption tests (glycerol-TPD) were conducted to assess the feasibility of the catalytic system for dehydration/dehydrogenation activity. The 0.625CoAl catalyst displayed the highest conversion of carbon to gas and selectivity to H2, which corresponds to the higher H2 desorption at lower temperature levels observed in the glycerol-TPD experiments. The catalyst's deactivation and regeneration were studied on 0.25CoAl catalyst under severe operation conditions and resulted in cobalt leaching detection. Raman spectroscopy and temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) revealed the formation of predominantly amorphous carbon on the surface of the catalyst.