Catalytic steam reforming of glycerol over Ni-La2O3-CeO2/SBA-15 catalyst for stable hydrogen-rich gas production

Ni-based catalysts (Ni, Ni-La2O3, and Ni-La2O3-CeO2) on mesoporous silica supports (SBA-15 and KIT-6) were prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation and tested in glycerol steam reforming (GSR) for hydrogen-rich gas production. The catalysts were characterized by the N-2-physisorption, TPD, X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM-EDS, and TEM techniques. N-2-physisorption results of calcined catalysts highlight that adding of La2O3 increased surface area of the catalyst by preventing pore mouth plugging in SBA-15, which was frequently observed due to the growth of NiO crystals. A set of GSR experiments over the catalysts were performed in an up-flow continuous packed-bed reactor at 650 degrees C and atmospheric pressure. The highest hydrogen concentration of 62 mol% was observed with a 10%Ni-5% La2O3 -5%CeO2/SBA-15 catalyst at a LHSV of 5.8 h(-1). Adding of CeO2 to the catalyst appeared to increase catalytic stability by facilitating the oxidative gasification of carbon formed on/near nickel active sites of Ni-La2O3-CeO2/SBA-15 and Ni-La2O3-CeO2/KIT-6 catalyst during the glycerol steam reforming reaction. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.