Hydrogen Generation from CO2 Reforming of Biomass-Derived Methanol on Ni/SiO2 Catalyst

CO2 reforming of methanol for producing hydrogen was experimentally carried out in a fixed-bed reactor on 10%Ni/SiO2. The 10%Ni/SiO2 was completely reduced during H-2 activation and it had the surface area of 240.5 m(2)/g. As CO2 reforming of methanol has an endothermic nature, the substantial improvement in methanol conversion from 52 to 99% was evident with rising temperature from 450 to 550 degrees C, respectively. H-2/CO ratios varying within 1.65-1.76 were evidenced at different reaction temperatures. These H-2/CO ratios are preferred as feedstocks for long-chain hydrocarbons generation in Fischer-Tropsch production. Ni-0 metallic phase was maintained during CO2 reforming of methanol and hence catalytic activity was stable within 8 h on-stream. Although amorphous and graphitic species were unavoidably yielded on catalyst surface, catalytic deterioration in CO2 reforming of methanol was not observed due to the concomitant CO2 gasification of surface carbonaceous species during reaction.

Automated summary

CO2 reforming of methanol for producing hydrogen was experimentally studied using a fixed-bed reactor with 10%Ni/SiO2 catalyst. The catalyst was fully reduced and had a surface area of 240.5 m(2)/g during H-2 activation. The methanol conversion significantly improved from 52% to 99% with increasing temperature from 450 to 550 degrees C due to the endothermic nature of CO2 reforming. The H-2/CO ratios ranged from 1.65 to 1.76 at different reaction temperatures, which are preferred for long-chain hydrocarbons generation in Fischer-Tropsch production. The catalytic activity remained stable within 8 hours on-stream due to the maintenance of Ni-0 metallic phase during CO2 reforming of methanol. The catalytic deterioration was not observed because of the concomitant CO2 gasification of surface carbonaceous species during reaction.