Comparison of novel olivine supported catalysts for high purity hydrogen production by CO2 sorption enhanced steam reforming

Seven Ni-based catalysts were prepared over different supports (conventional Al2O3, non-conventional olivine and hydrotalcite) with Co and Pd addition. Their catalytic performance was studied in hydrogen production by Steam Reforming (SR) and CO2-Sorption Enhanced Steam Reforming (SESR) with two different feeds: I) acetic acid as model compound and II) a mixture of acetic acid, acetone, phenol, furfural and 1-butanol as a simulated bio-oil. Two dolomites were employed and compared as CO2 sorbents. The so-called Arctic dolomite showed better characteristics for CO2 sorption than raw dolomite. High purity hydrogen (99.89 %) was generated during the CO2-SESR process without CO or CH4 detection, before the breakthrough curve, even during the complex mixture reforming. The olivine supported novel and cheap catalysts showed very high activity, with TOF values as high as 75 s(-1), high hydrogen purity and yields, and good stability during 20-50 h under reforming conditions.