Improved H2 production from the APR of polyols in a microreactor utilizing Pt supported on a CeO2[sbnd]Al2O3 structured catalyst

Abstract

In this research, the activity and selectivity of a platinum-based catalyst for H2 production through aqueous phase reforming (APR) in a fixed-bed reactor (FBR) as well as, a structured catalyst microreactor (MR) were investigated. In this venue, first, an in-house designed MR was fabricated and the catalytic material was deposited on the channel walls of this steel made reactor. After verification of the stability of the coated layer, the prepared reactor was employed to investigate the APR reaction. In this regard, APR of the ethylene glycol and glycerol over Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/CeO2Al2O3 catalyst were conducted in an MR and FBR. Obtained results demonstrated that employing Pt/CeO2Al2O3 as a highly active catalyst in an FBR, slightly reduced the H2 selectivity for the APR reaction of the ethylene glycol. Moreover, this effect appeared even more pronounced in reforming of glycerol. On the other hand, utilization of an MR for the APR of glycerol improved the H2 selectivity due to the more active Pt/CeO2Al2O3 catalyst, for this process. Comparison of the results revealed that the highly active catalyst alongside a reactor alleviating mass transfer limitations were two complementary factors leading to better performance of such chemical systems. Moreover, this research emphasized that obtained values of the APR conversion and H2 selectivity in an MR coated with the Pt/CeO2Al2O3 catalyst was superior to those obtained from an FBR. Ultimately, the best results obtained for the aforementioned catalytic species indicated that the APR of glycerol in a structured catalyst MR led to 75.3% conversion of glycerol and 92.4% selectivity to hydrogen production both of which were considerably better than results determined in an FBR.