Hydrogen production by catalytic steam reforming of acetol, a model compound of bio-oil

Hydrogen can be produced by catalytic steam reforming of bio-oil or its fractions. Bio-oil is a complex mixture of a large number of compounds derived from fast pyrolysis of biomass. Acetol has been selected as a model compound. Steam reforming of acetol has been studied in a fluidized bed reactor using coprecipitated Ni-Al catalysts, some promoted with lanthanum and cobalt. Noncatalytic experiments have been performed from 450 to 650 degrees C. Catalytic experiments have been carried out at 600 and 650 degrees C in order to analyze the influence of the catalyst weight/acetol flow rate (W/m(Ac)) ratio on gas yields. The influence of the steam to carbon molar (S/C) ratio and the catalyst composition on gas yields has also been studied. The presence of the catalyst increases H-2, CO2, and total gas yields while CH4, CO, and C-2 yields decrease. An increase in the S/C ratio at 650 degrees C increases H-2, CO2, and total gas yields and carbon conversion to gas. The presence of lanthanum in Ni-Al coprecipitated catalysts increases CH4, CO2, C-2, and total gas yields as well as carbon conversion to gas. Ni-Co-Al catalysts present the lowest values of carbon conversion to gas. Hydrogen yields obtained with the catalysts tested follow this sequence: Ni-Al = Ni-Co-Al (Co/Ni = 0.25) > Ni-Co-Al (Co/Ni = 0.025) > Ni-Al-La (4 wt % La2O3) > Ni-Al-La (8 wt % La2O3) > Ni-Al-La (12 wt % La2O3).