Method for hydrogen production from ethanol and glycerol at low temperatures
Authors: Diana Lazăr, Maria Miheț, Monica Dan
Keywords: energetic hydrogen, ethanol, glycerol
Applications
Hydrogen is currently considered as one of the renewable energy vectors with high potential for utilization in the medium and long term. It can be obtained in a sustainable way in two ways: (i) by electrolysis of water using solar/wind energy; (ii) from biomass products.
In our geographic area there are two types of materials suitable for exploitation: glycerol and ethanol, both derived from plant products and both with high hydrogen content. Glycerol is produced in large quantities as a waste product in the production of biodiesel from vegetable oils, has no economic value and is considered a toxic waste, which is why its price is very low. Ethanol is easily obtained on a large scale from plant products and/or waste (agricultural or forestry) and its conversion into hydrogen generates more value than burning in engines as an additive to conventional fuels.
Innovative aspects
The catalytic method for the conversion of ethanol and glycerol into hydrogen-rich gases is a solution to solve two distinct and equally important problems: (i) finding renewable sources of hydrogen independent of fossil fuels; (ii) finding an economical efficient way to valorize glycerol and ethanol. The technical problem solved by our proposed method is the development of a catalytic process that will make the production of hydrogen from the mentioned compounds more energy efficient and economical (by lowering the reaction temperature).
Technology
The method developed in INCDTIM consists in the catalytic steam reforming at low temperature of ethanol and glycerol to obtain a dry mixture of hydrogen, methane and carbon oxides. Depending on the desired application, this mixture can be used as such, or the hydrogen can be separated. The catalysts developed allow the reaction temperature to be lowered to 350ºC for ethanol reforming and 550ºC for glycerol reforming while maintaining the selectivity for hydrogen formation.
Advantages
- Uses cheap and abundant raw materials
- The combination of catalyst – reaction conditions is optimized to make the process more efficient and lower the costs
- A large amount of hydrogen is obtained per unit of feedstock used: 6 moles of hydrogen produced from 1 mole of ethanol and 7 moles of hydrogen produced from 1 mole of glycerol
Patent
Patent 131787/ 28.08.2020
Title: Process for obtaining hydrogen rich gases by catalytic reforming of glycerol at low temperatures
Inventors: Lazăr Mihaiela Diana, Dan Monica Alexandrina Diana, Miheț Maria