Abstract
The reforming of biofuels represents a promising technology for low carbon and renewable hydrogen production today. The core of the process is an active and stable catalyst, which can help to improve this technology and its efficiency. With this review, we aim to survey the more relevant literature on heterogeneous catalysts for the reforming of biofuels with improved sulfur tolerance. The review is structured into four main sections. Following the introduction, the fundamental aspects of sulfur poisoning are discussed. In the third section, the basic principles of the reforming of biofuels are reported, and finally, in the fourth section—the core of the review—recent progresses in the development of sulfur resistant catalysts are discussed, distinguishing the role of the metal (noble and non-noble) from that of the support.
Highlights
In order to contribute to decarbonization, today’s energy sector is called to respond to a complex challenge: to simultaneously satisfy the recent energy needs of an increasingly large population, and to limit greenhouse gas emissions
The catalytic systems for the reforming of biofuel poisoned by sulfur compounds are continuously under investigation, as evidenced by the representative varying research reported in Table 1, and as referred to over the last two years
The biodiesel produced by the transesterification of soybean oil (40%) and palm oil (60%) with a low content of sulfur was used as a feedstock for steam reforming experiments, revealing that the precious metal catalyst improved performance over the ceramic-based catalyst at similar conditions [127]
Summary
In order to contribute to decarbonization, today’s energy sector is called to respond to a complex challenge: to simultaneously satisfy the recent energy needs of an increasingly large population, and to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The COP26 will be a further milestone in the path aimed at achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce the global temperature increase to 1.5 ◦C In this scenario, the promotion of hydrogen use can make an important contribution to reduce emissions, and could represent a solution to the decarbonization of highly energyintensive industrial sectors. In an oxygen atmosphere, Pd uptakes less SO2 than Pt, but inhibiting species, such as palladium sulfates, are stabilized on the catalyst surface at higher temperatures [61] These observations on the behavior of noble metals can be extended to the catalyst for the reforming of biofuels in the presence of sulfur compounds
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
