Hydrogen production for PEM fuel cell by gas phase reforming of glycerol as byproduct of bio-diesel. The use of a Pd–Ag membrane reactor at middle reaction temperature

Abstract

Glycerol as a byproduct of biodiesel production represents a renewable energy source. In particular, glycerol can be used in the field of hydrogen production via gas phase reforming for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications. In this work, glycerol steam reforming (GSR) reaction was investigated using a dense palladium–silver membrane reactor (MR) in order to produce pure (or at least CO-free) hydrogen, using 0.5wt% Ru/Al2O3 as reforming catalyst. The experiments are performed at 400°C, water to glycerol molar feed ratio 6:1, reaction pressure ranging from 1 to 5bar and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) from 0.1 to 1.0h−1. Moreover, a comparative study is given between the Pd–Ag MR and a traditional reactor (TR) working at the same MR operating conditions. The effect of the WHSV and reaction pressure on the performances of both the reactors in terms of glycerol conversion and hydrogen yield is also analyzed. The MR exhibits higher conversion than the TR (∼60% as best value for the MR against ∼40% for the TR, at WHSV=0.1h−1 and 5bar), and high CO-free hydrogen recovery (around 60% at WHSV=0.1h−1 and 5bar). During reaction, carbon coke is formed limiting the performances of the reactors and inhibiting, in particular, the hydrogen permeation through the membrane with a consequent reduction of hydrogen recovery in the permeate side.