The role of bio-ethanol in aqueous phase reforming to sustainable hydrogen

Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) has during the recent years emerged as a potent, alternative means of processing raw materials of biological origin to component suitable as chemicals and fuel components. In contrary to e.g. steam reforming, aqueous phase reforming bares the promise of lower temperatures in processing which gives rise to potential of reduced energy consumption in the upgrading process itself.Aqueous phase reforming was studied over Pt/Al2O3 at 225 °C. Stable catalyst performance and high selectivity was observed. Upon a comparison of two ‘bio-alcohols’, bio-ethanol and Sorbitol (a sugar alcohol), the latter one is a better feedstock from overall energy utilization viewpoint but the use of it results in a broad range of products. Interestingly, in the case of sorbitol–ethanol mixtures, an improvement in the hydrogen yield was observed.