Thermodynamic analysis of H2 production by oxidative steam reforming of butanol-ethanol-water mixture recovered from Acetone:Butanol:Ethanol fermentation

Abstract

Thermodynamic equilibrium analysis has been adopted for oxidative steam reforming of butanol-ethanol mixture (B-E) as renewable source obtained from Acetone:Butanol:Ethanol (ABE) fermentation to produce H2 by using Gibbs free energy minimization method. The effects of pressure (1–10 atm), temperature (573–1473 K), steam/fuel molar feed ratio (fO1 = 9 and 12), O2/fuel molar feed ratio (fO2 = 0–3), and B-E mixture compositions (50–90%B) on equilibrium compositions of H2, CO, CO2, CH4, and carbon are performed. The maximum H2 yield (65.456% for fO2 = 0 and 58% for fO2 = 0.75) has been achieved at fO1 = 9, 90% B mixture, 1 atm, and 973 K. The yields of CO, CO2, and CH4 with respect to maximum H2 are 53.390%, 44.384%, and 2.225% for fO2 = 0, and 45.677%, 53.269%, and 1.053% for fO2 = 0.75, respectively. Energy required per mol of H2, thermal and exergy efficiencies for the process are also evaluated to utilize the potential of B–E mixture for H2 production.