Glycerol steam reforming for hydrogen production: Design of Ni supported catalysts

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 111-112; pp. 225 - 232
• Main Authors: Nichele, Valentina, Signoretto, Michela, Menegazzo, Federica, Gallo, Alessandro, Dal Santo, Vladimiro, Cruciani, Giuseppe, Cerrato, Giuseppina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 12.01.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biodiesel; Catalysis; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Glycerol; Hydrogen; Nickel; Porous materials; Steam reforming; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Glycerol; Steam reforming; Nickel; Hydrogen; Biodiesel; Binary compound; Incorporation; Anatase; Support; Selectivity; Porous material; Supported catalyst; Design; Zirconium oxide; Oxidation; Catalytic reaction; Deactivation; Stability; Transition element compounds; Strong interaction; Ions; Transition metal; Conversion; Mesoporosity; Operating conditions; Heterogeneous catalysis; Titanium oxide; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2011.10.003

[Display omitted] ► Ni catalysts have been tested in glycerol steam reforming for H2 production. ► A strong effect of the support on the catalytic activity has been detected. ► TiO2 cannot stabilize metallic Ni species on the surface. ► SBA-15 collapses in the reaction conditions because of its low hydrothermal stability. ► ZrO2 exhibits the best performance and stabilizes Ni nanoparticles to a high degree. In this work the activity of Ni catalysts in hydrogen production by glycerol steam reforming was studied. Moreover the effect of the support (TiO2, SBA-15 and ZrO2) on the catalytic performance of Ni was evaluated. A strong effect of the support on the activity of the samples was detected. The Ni/TiO2 sample showed negligible activity mainly due to the low strength of anatase to keep nickel in the reduced state. In fact, both incorporation of Ni ions into the nanoanatase lattice and oxidation of the active phase to NiO under operating conditions were observed. A deactivation process was also found with the Ni/SBA-15 sample while the best results were achieved with the Ni/ZrO2 catalyst, showing no deactivation. After 20h, the glycerol conversion was ∼72% and the H2 yield was ∼65%. The Ni/ZrO2 sample was even more active when tested at lower temperatures, although its performance was less stable. On the basis of the experimental results, it was evidenced that the nature of the support affects above all the stability of the active phase. In particular, strong interactions between the metal active phase and the support ensures stability, activity and selectivity of the catalyst in glycerol steam reforming reactions.