Fabrication and catalytic evaluation of Ni/CaO–Al2O3 in glycerol steam reforming: Effect of Ni loading

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the catalytic activity of the Ni/CaO–Al2O3 catalysts with different Ni loadings (2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt %) for H2 generation via the glycerol steam reforming (GSR). The support was prepared by the mechanochemical method, and then the various contents of nickel were impregnated on the support surface. The synthesized samples were characterized by BET, XRD, H2- TPR, CO2-TPD, TPO, FTIR, and SEM analyses. High stable catalytic activity was reported for the prepared catalysts. Among the investigated catalysts, 15%Ni/CaO–Al2O3 with the highest reducibility, proper BET area (96.6 m2 g−1), and suitable basicity possessed the highest catalytic performance with glycerol conversion of 99.4% at 700 °C. All the samples had high stability after 5 h, and the 15%Ni/CaO–Al2O3 showed 97.5% glycerol conversion at 550 °C without any decline in glycerol conversion durin 15 h time on stream. It was also found that glycerol conversion decreased with the increase in gas hourly space velocity and calcination temperature.