Metal Oxide-Based Catalysts for the Autothermal Reforming of Glycerol

Abstract

In this study hydrogen production from the autothermal reforming (ATR) of glycerol was investigated in a packed bed tubular reactor using nickel-based catalysts with theoretical composition of 5% Ni/Ce0.5Zr0.33M0.16O2−δ, where M is the promoter element selected from Mg, Ca, Y, La, or Gd. The structural, textural, and physicochemical characteristics of the catalysts were investigated using various characterization techniques. The catalytic activity was evaluated in a temperature range from 450 to 700 °C; steam-to-glycerol (S/G) ratio of 6, 9, and 12; and oxygen-to-glycerol (O/G) ratio of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 at atmospheric pressure. Among all the catalyst formulations prepared in the current study, 5Ni/CeZrGd exhibited the best catalytic performance and stability compared to the other promoter elements. For 5Ni/CeZrGd catalysts, it was found that, until 600 °C, conversion increased rapidly with the increase in temperature to reach 82 mol % glycerol conversion and more than 70 mol % H2 selectivity, which can b...