(91f) Autothermal Reforming of Glycerol in a Dual Layer Monolith Catalyst

Autothermal
Reforming of Glycerol in a Dual Layer Monolith Catalyst

Yujia Liu and Adeniyi Lawal

New Jersey Center for Microchemical
Systems, Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Stevens Institute
of Technology, 1 Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken NJ 07030

Abstract

Glycerol is a
by-product during biodiesel production via transesterification
of triglycerides. The conversion of glycerol to synthesis gas and then to
methanol represents an important niche for glycerol processing that could
relieve small biodiesel producers from high glycerol disposal cost while
reducing their dependence on methanol from fossil fuels. The autothermal reforming (ATR)
of glycerol into synthesis gas was studied using the BASF dual layer monolith
catalyst. Heat management requires balancing the exothermic partial oxidation
and endothermic reforming reactions in the catalytic ATR system. The
composition of synthesis gas obtained was determined as a function of
temperature, steam to carbon (H₂O/C) ratio, oxygen to carbon (O₂/C)
ratio and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV). The optimum operating conditions to
produce desired conversion of glycerol, yields of H₂, and H₂/CO
ratio with minimal coke formation were also determined.

Process
simulation offers a powerful tool that can assist in reactor design and process
optimization and scale up. The Aspen
simulation software package was used to determine the equilibrium product
composition for various reaction conditions. A comparison between process
simulation results and experimental data was made, and the agreement was
excellent indicating that equilibrium was attained for the selected reaction
conditions. This study is the first step in the development of a process
for autothermal reforming of crude glycerol to generate synthesis gas for
methanol production.