HYDROGEN FROM GLYCEROL REFORMING

BARBELLI LAURA; BUFFONI IVANA; F. POMPEO; G. SANTORI; N. NICHIO

BUENOS AIRES

Congreso; Congreso Mundial de Ingeniería 2010; 2010

Due to the need of alternative energies, biomass resources appear as raw materials available for providing new energy sources and chemical intermediates. As a new alternative, glycerol can be converted catalytically into a hydrogen rich gas mixture. A glycerol source for these purposes is the by-product of transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats generated in biodiesel production. In the present work, Pt and Ni catalysts prepared on different supports were evaluated in order to apply them in the reforming of glycerol to obtain hydrogen and/or synthesis gas at temperatures lower than 450ºC. Supported catalysts were prepared with low metal loading, allowed us to obtain the total conversion of glycerol, with a 100% conversion to gaseous products and 70% selectivity to H2. These results are very important considering that the reaction was conducted at 350ºC, temperature much lower than conventional gasification of biomass which is carried out at 550ºC.