Investigation of the steam reforming of a series of model compounds derived from bio-oil for hydrogen production

In this study, steam reforming of acetic acid, ethylene glycol, acetone, ethyl acetate, m-xylene, and glucose, which were representative of the main components in bio-oil, were performed to investigate the feasibility of these feedstocks for hydrogen production. The effects of reaction temperature and steam to carbon ratios (S/C) on steam reforming as well as coke formation tendency of the bio-oil components in the presence and absence of steam were investigated in a detailed manner. Low reaction temperature and S/C led to low steam reforming efficiency, and consequently decomposition or degradation of the feedstocks dominated, resulting in large amounts of by-products. Increasing reaction temperature and S/C increased the steam reforming rates and the partial pressure of steam on catalyst surface, favoring conversion of the feedstocks and removal of the by-products. Coke formation rates of the feedstocks during the long-term experiments decreased in the following orders: glucose ≫ m-xylene > acetone > ethyl acetate > ethylene glycol > acetic acid. Decomposition or polymerization of the feedstocks to carbonaceous deposit was the main route for coke formation in glucose, m-xylene, and acetone reforming, while the large amounts of by-products such as ethylene, CO, or acetone were main sources of coke in the steam reforming of ethyl acetate, ethylene glycol, and acetic acid.