Glycerol Steam Reforming for Hydrogen Production over CoxNiy-MCM-41 and CoxNiy-SBA-15 Catalysts

Recent technological advances in fuel cells technology demand search for efficient methods to produce hydrogen, especially from bio-based resources. One encouraging approach is to expand steam reforming to produce H₂ from glycerol due to its low cost, availability and high hydrogen/carbon ratio. However, limited studies have been reported in the literature investigating the different catalysts for steam reforming of glycerol (GSR). This study focusses on the development of Co and Ni based mono- and bimetallic catalysts with high surface area MCM-41 and SBA-15 as the support materials. The prepared catalysts are characterized using TGA-DSC, N₂ adsorption-desorption, XRD, TEM, ICP-OES, FTIR and H₂-TPR techniques. Catalysts possess high surface area in the range of 540-750 m²/g and pore sizes of 4.8 -5.9 nm, depending on the type of metal and its loading, and support. The catalysts are tested for their activity, selectivity and long-term stability for GSR in a tubular fixed bed reactor at different temperatures (450 – 700 °C) and glycerol/water molar ratios (1/9 – 1/18). The highlights of these studies will be presented.