(509e) Renewable Hydrogen Generation by Steam Reforming of Acetic Acid Over Cu-Zn-Ni Catalyst Supported On Calcium Aluminate

Catalytic steam reforming of biomass-derived-oil is one of the promising methods for the production of renewable hydrogen. Typically bio oil contains 12-14% by wt. acetic acid therefore it has been chosen as the model compound for the reforming of bio oil. In the present study performance of the Cu-Zn-Ni/CaO-Al₂O₃ catalyst was investigated for  hydrogen production  with an aim of minimisation of methane and carbon monoxide formation. The calcium aluminate support was prepared by solid-solid reaction between calcium oxide and aluminium oxide (12/7 molar ratio)  at 1250⁰C temperature for 24 hr. XRD results indicated that 12CaO.7Al₂O₃ appeared as major phase with CaO.2Al₂O₃ and CaO as minor phases in the support. Cu, Zn and Ni were loaded on this support by wet impregnation method. For the preparation of catalyst, initial loadings of  Cu, Zn and Ni  were kept as  10%, 1% and 7% by wt. respectively. The catalyst was characterized by BET, XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM and TPR to understand the physic-chemical properties of the catalysts. The steam reforming reaction was carried out in a tubular fixed bed reactor (I.D=19mm) at different temperatures ranging from 600-700⁰C with 3 gram of catalyst and water to acetic acid ratio of 9:1 (by wt.). The role of Ni metal was to break the C-C bond present in acetic acid and Cu metal promoted the steam reforming reaction on the surface of the catalyst. Incorporation of Zn enhanced the acetic acid conversion and H₂ yield and also reduced deactivation of catalyst. The coke formation on the support surface was insignificant due to the presence of excess oxygen in the 12CaO.7Al₂O₃ phase. At 700⁰C, % hydrogen yield was approximately 92% and acetic acid conversion was approximately 90%.