HYDROGEN-PRODUCTION BY STEAM REFORMING GLUCOSE IN SUPERCRITICAL WATER

Gasification of glucose in supercritical water at 600-degrees-C, 34.5 MPa, and 30 s residence time results in the formation of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane. The yields of these gases are strongly influenced by the reactor wall and are far from values predicted by a thermochemical equilibrium program. For glucose concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 M, the gasification carbon efficiency equals or exceeds 85 % in a Hastelloy C276 capillary tube reactor. Virtually no tar or char products are detected in the effluent of the reactor.