Hydrogen production by steam reforming of fusel oil over nickel deposited on pyrolyzed rice husk supports

Abstract

Fusel oil is mixed alcohol as a by-product of ethanol production, and it can be used as a cheap and renewable source to produce Hydrogen (H2) via steam reforming. Silicon carbide (SiC) was successfully synthesized by pyrolysis of rice husk at different temperatures (1300, 1500, and 1700 °C) and was used as a support for a nickel (Ni) catalyst in steam reforming of fusel oil. The results exhibited pyrolysis temperature had a significant effect on the structure and crystalline phase of SiC, where pyrolysis of rice husk over 1500 °C resulted in the formation of a rod structure and β-SiC phase. The surface area of pyrolyzed rice husk was obtained for 19, 64, and 25 m2/g at pyrolysis temperatures of 1300, 1500, and 1700 °C, respectively. The performance of the Ni on the pyrolyzed rice husk support on steam reforming of fusel oil (SRF) was investigated at 700 °C and compared with Ni on commercial SiC. The Ni/SiC1500 exhibited the highest catalytic performance, and its activity remained almost constant during a 300 min stability test. The H2 yield produced from the Ni/SiC1500 was 29% after 180 min and remained stable because the unique rod structure and β-SiC phase reduced carbon formation, thus giving an excellent performance.