Effect of metal addition to Ni/activated charcoal catalyst on gasification of glucose in supercritical water

Activated charcoal supported nickel-based catalysts such as Ni/AC, Ni–Y/AC, Ni–Fe/AC, and Ni–Co/AC were formulated and their catalytic activity for the gasification of glucose in supercritical water were investigated using a packed-bed reactor at 650 °C, 28 MPa. A set of glucose gasification experiments was also carried out without catalyst and with AC to provide baseline data. Loading of small amounts of Y to the Ni/AC catalyst appeared to increase both the extent of gasification and hydrogen yield while loading of Fe or Co metal to the Ni/AC catalyst did not give any positive effect on the gasification results. Effect of catalyst composition, temperature, reactant concentration, and reactor residence time on the glucose gasification with the Ni–Y/AC catalyst was examined. Catalyst analysis indicates that adding of Y into the Ni/AC catalyst inhibited carbon formation to a great extent, thereby maintaining catalytic activity of the Ni metal for H2 formation reactions.

► Effect of metal adding to Ni/AC was examined on H2 production from SCWG of glucose.
► Ni–Y/AC had a superior catalytic activity compared with Ni–Fe/AC and Ni–Co/AC.
► SCWG of glucose with the Ni–Y/AC catalyst is very sensitive to reaction temperature.
► Adding of Y to Ni/AC catalyst significantly suppressed carbon formation reaction.