Abstract:
Due to an increase of the biodiesel production. Glycerol, a by-product, has been
gradually increased while the demand is not proportionally increased. Utilization of
glycerol for hydrogen production by oxidative steam reforming reaction can be
alternative. The objective of this work was to study the effects of the operating
condition and the addition of Ce02 and Zr02 promoters in NilAh03 catalyst on
oxidative reforming of glycerol, Hydrogen yield, glycerol conversion and coke
formation were determined. The amount of Ce02 and Zr02 promoters of 4% and 8%,
reaction temp range of 600-700?C, and water to glycerol ratio(W:G) of 6:1 and 9: 1 at a
constant of 0.5 oxygen to glycerol were parameters studied. From the characterization
results of the fresh catalysts using X-ray diffraction techniques and H2 chemisorption
techniques, the promoters enhanced Ni dispersion but reduced Ni particle size.
From the experimental results of NilAh03, Ni/8%Ce021Ah03 and Ni/8%Zr021Ah03,
operation condition of 600?C and W:G of 6:1,it was found that the promoters did not
substantially improve the reforming reaction. However, at 700?C and W:G of 9: 1, both
Ce02 and Zr02 promoters increased glycerol conversion by promoting water-gas shift
reaction.
In studying the effects of reaction temp and W:G over Ni/8%Zr021Ah03 catalyst, it can
be seen that either reaction temp or W:G increased glycerol reforming and water gas
shift reaction but reduce coke formation. The suitable operating condition found was
700?C and W:G of9:1 at 02:G of 0.5.
For Ni/8%Ce02/Ah03, the ceria promoter enhanced glycerol cracking giving complete
conversion of glycerol to gas products and inhibited coke formation. This catalyst was
the most suitable as ceria has oxygen storage capacity providing oxygen to react with
the carbon formed on the catalyst and improving catalyst activity and stability.
For the zirconia-promoted catalyst, zirconia primarily improved oxygen dissociation but
this oxygen oxidized nickel active site forming inactive NiO.For the ceria-zirconia
promoted catalyst, the experimental was in between that of pare ceria and zirconia
promoter.
In studying the effect of promoter content, it was found that when increasing the
promoter from 4% to 8%, the catalyst activity was improved. The catalyst containing
8%CeOz was more active than 8%ZrOz catalyst at higher reaction temp and W:G
(700?C and W:G=9:1).