Long-duration Catalytic Steam Reforming of 2nd Generation Bio-Ethanol

Hydrogen can be produced by catalytically steam-converting bio-ethanol (CSRE). The present research applies EtOH from fermenting pretreated biomass (second-generation process). The endothermic CSRE reaction is operated at moderate temperatures (450 to 600°C). Non-noble bi-metallic catalysts are applied: mostly Co, doped with minor promoting Ce amounts, were used as active species and wet-impregnated on α-Al2O3. The catalyst and its supports were fully characterized. Between 450 and 600°C, in different experimental setups, mainly H2 and CO2 are formed at high molar steam to ethanol ratio. Yields of 5 to 5.72 mol H2/mol EtOH, and up to 1.84 mol CO2/mol EtOH, are obtained respectively. Both CO and CH4 were detected at very low concentrations. The Co/α-Al2O3 and Co-Ce/α-Al2O3 catalysts are very stable and not deactivated during long-duration testing of 2000 hours while previous literature is limited to less than 30 h. A solar pilot-scale bio-ethanol CSRE using a particle-driven thermal loop was also tested and is reported to produce 5 mol H2/ mol EtOH at the low 480±20℃. Experiments are ongoing at 550 to 600℃.