Hydrogen production from dimethyl ether and bioethanol for fuel cell applications

Dimethyl ether (DME) and water–ethanol mixtures are promising and attractive sources of hydrogen for fuel cell applications. Copper-cerium oxide systems have been studied as the catalysts for DME steam reforming (SR) to hydrogen-rich gas mixtures. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide were the main reaction products; CO content was insignificant. For CO removal to 10 ppm, the level tolerated by low-temperature fuel cells in the hydrogen-rich feed gas—the reaction of preferential CO methanation in the presence of CO2 has been used. Nickel-cerium oxide system was used as the catalyst. SR of water–ethanol mixtures was performed using supported Rh catalyst. Reaction products of ethanol SR at 400 °C contained H2, CH4 and CO2. As the temperature increased to 600–700 °C, the CH4 concentration decreased considerably. The obtained hydrogen-rich gas mixture can be used as a feed for high-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells.