Efficient hydrogen production from ethanol and glycerol by vapour-phase reforming processes with new cobalt-based catalysts

The aim of this study was to investigate biohydrogen production from biofuel-reforming processes using new multi-component bulk-type cobalt-based catalysts. The addition of different components to improve the catalytic performance was studied. Monometallic cobalt catalyst and catalysts containing Ru (ca. 1%) and/or Na (ca. 0.5%) were characterized and tested in the 623–673 K temperature range in ethanol steam reforming (ESR) with a steam/carbon ratio (S/C) of 3. The catalysts showed a high performance for hydrogen production and, except for H2 and CO2, only small amounts of by-products were obtained, depending on the temperature and the catalyst used. The catalyst containing both Ru and Na (Co–Ru(Na)) showed the best catalytic behavior in ESR. It operated stably for at least 12 days under cycles of oxidative steam reforming of glycerol/ethanol mixtures (S/C = 2) and activation under O2.