Thermodynamic Study of Hydrogen Production via Bioglycerol Steam Reforming

A thermodynamic analysis and experimental validation of bioglycerol catalytic steam reforming process using Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst for hydrogen production is presented in this article. The thermodynamic study was performed by developing a mathematical model of the process using ChemCAD process simulator a well-known and widely used CAPE tool. All major reactions and major products (H₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄, C) obtained in the steam reforming of glycerol were considered in the thermodynamic analysis. For the validation of the simulation results, the results were compared with experimental data reported by literature. Following thermodynamic study the most important factors which influence the steam reforming of bioglycerol are the water/bioglycerol molar ratio and the temperature. The concentrations of the main product (H₂) at lower temperature are smaller than the ones at higher temperature due to by-products formation (methane). The maximum concentration of H₂ was obtained at 650 - 700 °C, 1bar and molar ratio water/glycerol 10: 1. The main by-products concentration (expressed in dry concentrations) where H₂ concentration is maximum, are the following: 0 % mol CH₄, 21.2 % mol CO, 9.7 % mol CO₂. The minimum formation of CH₄ and C was obtained at 1 bar, 1,000 °C and molar ratio water/glycerol 10: 1.