Preparation of Ni-based catalysts to produce hydrogen from glycerol by steam reforming process

•Ni/Al2O3–ZrO2, Ni–Pd/Al2O3–ZrO2, Ni–Pd/Al2O3–ZrO2–La3O4, Ni/Olivine were synthesized by sol–gel and impregnation methods.•Ni/Al2O3–ZrO2, Ni–Pd/Al2O3–ZrO2, Ni–Pd/Al2O3–ZrO2–La3O4, Ni/Olivine were characterized by XRD, XRF, BET and XPS.•Activity of catalyst tested on steam reforming of glycerol.

Nickel and Nickel–Palladium-catalysts supported on Al2O3–ZrO2, Al2O3–ZrO2–La2O3 and on Olivine were synthesized using a combination of sol–gel and wet impregnation methods. The influence of the formulation on their textural properties was examined by XRF, XRD and XPS. The influence of supports, promoters and temperatures of reactions was studied on glycerol steam reforming to produce hydrogen. C3H8O3 and H2O mixture was fed into a fixed bed reactor in a molar ratio of S/C = 5.0 (Steam/Carbon) and tested under atmospheric pressure at 800,700, 600 °C for 4 h. The most suitable catalyst was determined as Ni–Pd/Al2O3–ZrO2specifically in the process carried out at 800 °C, since it reached the highest hydrogen yield around 74%.