Hydrogen production from a model bio-oil/bio-glycerol mixture through steam reforming using Zeolite L supported catalysts

Abstract Zeolite L featuring different size and shape (nanocrystals and discs), with and without alkaline metal exchange (Cs or Na), was used as catalyst support in bio-oil/bio-glycerol mixture Steam Reforming (SR). Zeolites were modified with CeO 2 to improve support properties before the impregnation of nickel. Then, prepared catalysts were tested in SR of a multi-component synthetic bio-oil/bio-glycerol mixture at 1073 and 973 K, under atmospheric pressure and using a Steam to Carbon (S/C) ratio of 5.0. Activity tests showed that catalysts deactivated during the experiments at 973 K. In addition, the sodium exchange produced the sintering of the Zeolite L crystals. Thus, Na containing catalysts produced low conversions and hydrogen yields lower than 30%. On the other hand, Cs containing catalysts resulted in slightly lower hydrogen yields than the supports without this metallic cation. Regarding the morphology of the zeolites, the ones with disc shape were the most active for bio-oil SR purposes producing hydrogen yields close to 80% in the first reaction stage at 1073 K and hydrogen yields close to the 50% at the last reaction stage at 1073 K.