Hydrogen production via biomass fast pyrolysis and in-line steam reforming using carbon reduced cathode material of spent LiCoO2 batteries as catalyst

Abstract

Biomass pyrolysis and in-line steam reforming for hydrogen production is one of the effective ways to promote the sustainable development of global energy. In this study, Co was recovered from the cathode material of LiCoO2 batteries using the carbon thermal reduction method, and used for biomass pyrolysis and in-line steam reforming for hydrogen production. First, the cathode material was reduced using coconut shell carbon (CC), and it was revealed that cobalt presented in the catalyst prepared at the reduction temperature of 800 °C, giving the hydrogen yield of 24.9 mmol/g. Other carbon source like graphite carbon (GIC) and straw pyrolytic carbon (SC) were then investigated and it was found that a much higher temperature (>800 °C) was required for the reduction of the cathode material with GIC and the catalyst prepared by SC reduction was less effective than that using CC reduction. Considering the great influence of the pore structure of the carbon material on the reduction, activated carbon (AC) was obtained from SC using KOH activation. With a better distribution of cobalt on the carrier prepared by AC reduction, the highest hydrogen yield of 28.3 mmol/g was achieved with the mass ratio of cathode material and AC of 10:3. This study provides a viable avenue for the application of spent lithium-ion battery cathode materials in the production of hydrogen from biomass.