A Short Overview on the Hydrogen Production Via Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) of Cellulose, C6-C5 Sugars and Polyols

• Published in: Catalysts Vol. 9; no. 11; p. 917
• Main Authors: Andrea Fasolini, Raffaele Cucciniello, Emilia Paone, Francesco Mauriello, Tommaso Tabanelli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01-11-2019
• Subjects: aqueous phase reforming (apr); cellulose; fructose; glucose; hydrogen; lignocellulosic biomasses; polyols; renewable energy; sorbitol; sugars; xylitol; xylose
• ISSN: 2073-4344
• DOI: 10.3390/catal9110917

The use of lignocellulosic biomasses for the production of renewable hydrogen is surely among the hot-topic research tasks. In this review, we report on the recent advances in the catalytic conversion of cellulose and its derived C6-C5 sugars (glucose, fructose, and xylose) and polyols (sorbitol and xylitol) into hydrogen via aqueous phase reforming (APR) reactions. The APR processes are considered to be new sustainable catalytic routes for converting the carbohydrate fraction of biomasses into hydrogen at milder reaction conditions if compared with the traditional reforming reactions. Particular emphasis is given to the development of new and active catalysts and to the optimization of reaction conditions that aimed to maximize hydrogen production with a low concentration of CO avoiding, at the same time, the formation of alkanes.