Efficient Hydrogen Production by Aqueous Phase Reforming of Ethylene Glycol over Ni-W Catalysts with Enhanced C-C Bond Cleavage Activity

Cleavage of C-C bonds is crucial for hydrogen production via aqueous phase reforming of biomass-derived oxygenates. In this study, the hydrogen production performance and C-C bond cleavage capacity of Ni-W/AC catalysts with varying W/Ni ratios are evaluated using ethylene glycol as a model compound. A series of APR experiments conducted suggests that Ni-0.2W/AC catalyst exhibits the highest C1/C2+ ratio of 15.87 and achieves a hydrogen yield of 47.76%. The enhanced Ni-W bimetallic interactions, which significantly improve the efficiency of C-C bond cleavage and increase catalyst activity by promoting active site dispersion, are confirmed by detailed characterization techniques. Further analysis of product distribution provides insights into the reaction pathways of ethylene glycol and the reaction mechanism for ethanol during aqueous phase reforming. All the results indicate that this catalytic reforming method effectively facilitates C-C bond cleavage and hydrogen production, contributing to a better understanding of APR mechanisms for biomass-derived oxygenates.