Catalytic Steam Reforming of Bioethanol in Fixed Bed Catalytic Reactor for Hydrogen Production

Chem Sci Trans., 2015, 4(2), pp 365-372

DOI:10.7598/cst2015.1017

Research Article

Catalytic Steam Reforming of Bioethanol in Fixed Bed Catalytic Reactor for Hydrogen Production

P. R. TAYADE¹*, V. S. SAPKAL², R. S. SAPKAL³ and P. V. SAPKAL⁴

¹Chemical Engg, Department, Jawaharlal Darda Institute of Engg. & Technology, Lohara MIDC, Yavatmal-445001, M. S. India
²Chemical Technology Department, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, M.S., India Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur -440001, M.S., India
³Department of Chemical Technology, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati-444602, M.S., India
⁴Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, M.S., India

Abstract

The environmental pollution, global warming and energy crises, all resulted by the extensive use of fossil fuels in automobiles and industry. In this situation of need of sustainable energy, hydrogen as a fuel obtained by steam reforming of bio-derived ethanol (bioethanol) substantially can fulfill the requirement of clean energy for the future. By keeping this view, steam reforming of bioethanol for the production of hydrogen using 10% Co-ZnO catalyst in fixed bed catalytic reactor was studied. For this, a fixed bed tubular SS-316, 15 mm diameter, 28 cm in length reactor was developed. The reforming reactions were carried to observe the product distribution under atmospheric pressure condition in the temperature range of 350 ⁰C - 550 ⁰C and bio-ethanol to water feed molar ratio of 1: 8 to 1:12. The Co-ZnO catalyst prepared by co-precipitation method has shown very good catalytic activity in the studied range of molar ratio of feed and reforming temperatures.