On-board H2 generation by a catalytic hollow fibre microreactor for portable device applications

A novel catalytic hollow fibre microreactor (CHFMR) that uses an asymmetric YSZ hollow fibre has been developed for on-board H2 generation to be used in portable device applications. In the development of CHFMR, the 10 wt.%Ni/MgO–CeO2 catalyst that was selected as a catalyst for the ethanol steam reforming (ESR) was impregnated into the inner surface of YSZ hollow fibres using the sol–gel Pechini technique. The catalytic activity tests were performed in the YSZ hollow fibres and the results were compared with fixed-bed reactors. An excellent catalyst utilisation in the CHFMR enables a small quantity of catalyst to be used for the ESR. The result shows that 8 units of CHFMR that only has an 18 mg catalyst produced a relatively similar amount of H2 compared to a fixed-bed reactor that used 100 mg.

Graphical abstractA catalytic hollow fibre microreactor is developed for on-board H2 production. Ethanol steam reforming is used to test the benefit of finger-like structure. H2 obtained in 8 fibres with only an 18 mg catalyst is similar to 100 mg fixed-bed reactor.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide