Hydrogen production by steam reforming of m-cresol, a bio-oil model compound, using catalysts supported on conventional and unconventional supports

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 40; no. 42; pp. 14445 - 14455
• Main Authors: García-García, I., Acha, E., Bizkarra, K., Martínez de Ilarduya, J., Requies, J., Cambra, J.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 09-11-2015
• Subjects: Bio-oil; Hydrogen; m-cresol; Steam reforming; Unconventional supports; Unconventional supports; Steam reforming; m-cresol; Hydrogen; Bio-oil
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.07.155

The steam-reforming of a bio-oil model compound, like m-cresol, was performed in order to produce renewable hydrogen. Different nickel based catalysts supported on both conventional and unconventional supports, which had also been modified, were tested. Fresh and used catalysts were characterized using different techniques and this characterization was correlated with the reforming experiments results. The highest hydrogen yield was obtained with the catalyst supported on alumina modified with ceria, due to its high dispersion. The use of ceria as a support modifier promoted coke gasification and avoided catalytic deactivation through coking. The catalyst supported on olivine sand presented, among the unconventional supports, the highest hydrogen yield as a result of a recrystallization process that enhanced metal dispersion at high temperatures.
•Almost complete conversion of m-cresol was reached by all tested catalysts.•13Ni/10CeO2–Al2O3 (γ) catalyst obtained the highest hydrogen yield, 89.21%.•Olivine sand could be a promising unconventional support.