Nickel-based catalysts for hydrogen production by steam reforming of glycerol

As the renewable energy technologies are making progress every day, hydrogen energy technologies are taking huge part of this development. Nowadays, there are several industries using hydrogen. Also, the increase at biodiesel production amounts has increased the glycerol production as by-product. One of the main objectives of this study is to compare the effects Al2O3-, SiO2- and CeO2-supported nickel catalysts at steam reforming of glycerol in order to produce hydrogen. All catalysts were prepared by incipient to wetness method. The obtained steam reforming results showed that nickel catalysts supported on ceria showed the highest activity. Also the effect of nickel amount on CeO2 support material has been studied. The highest hydrogen amounts were obtained with 15 wt% nickel loading. Also the increase at water/glycerol ratio increased the hydrogen production amount. The highest hydrogen yield was obtained as 4.82 mol per glycerol mole, whereas the theoretical hydrogen yield is 7 mol, by using 15 wt% Ni/CeO2 catalyst, water/glycerol ratio of 15 and at 650 degrees C reaction temperature.