Production of Hydrogen from Glycerol via Steam Reforming Method

Abstract

Manan S. Sutaria Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Email- 13mchc08@nirmauni.ac.in The depleting fossil fuels with their ever increasing prices have paved ways for alternative fuels. Use of biodiesel and its production are expected to grow steadily in future. With the increase in production of biodiesel, there would be a glut of glycerol in the world market. Glycerol is a potential feed stock for hydrogen production because one mole of glycerol on steam reforming produces 7 moles of hydrogen. Production of hydrogen from glycerol is environmentally friendly because it adds value to glycerol generated from biodiesel plants. The study focuses on Nickel based catalysts modi ed with Mg, Ce, La on Alumina support.The catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness technique. The experiments were carried out using lab scale catalytic reactor and the gas products generated are analyzed in GC. The paper discusses the e ect of the catalysts on hydrogen selectivity and Conversion and glycerol conversion ranging from 700ºC to 900ºC. The e ect of glycerol to water ratio, metal loading, temperatureand feed ow rate was analyzed. It was found that with the increase in the water to glycerol molar ratio, feed ow rates around 1 ml/min, at 850ºC maximum hydrogen was produced. The results show that glycerol steam reforming is a viable alternative use of glycerol to produce hydrogen.A Theory regarding Kinetic Study has been studied. Characterisation of Liquid samples, Feasibility of Experiment by running it on Simulators(Hysys) has been carried out.