Batch Aqueous-phase Reforming of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Aqueous-phase reforming (APR) is a relatively recent
technology for producing hydrogen from
biomass-derived substrates. Amidst the worldwide
concerns about increasing petroleum prices and
declining supplies, this process has the potential to
address the need for a readily-available source of
energy that is renewable and environment-friendly.
APR uses temperatures much lower than those used in
existing thermochemical methods for biomass: ~500K as
opposed to about 600K to 1100K for pyrolysis and
gasification. The reaction occurs in aqueous phase in
the presence of a reforming metal catalyst that can
catalyze both reforming and water-gas shift
reactions. To date, known APR studies dealt only with
applying this technology to oxygenated compounds that
were used to mimic biomass. However, it is considered
that application of APR to real biomass is needed to
gauge whether this technology can be considered a
viable approach for hydrogen production.

Autorentext

Mariefel Valenzuela Olarte is currently a PhD student in ChemicalEngineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She finishedher MS in Pulp Science Engineering (ChBE) at the same universityin 2006 and her undergraduate studies in BS Chemical Engineering(Pulp and Paper Technology), cum laude, from the Universityof the Philippines Los Baños.

Klappentext

Aqueous-phase reforming (APR) is a relatively recenttechnology for producing hydrogen frombiomass-derived substrates. Amidst the worldwideconcerns about increasing petroleum prices anddeclining supplies, this process has the potential toaddress the need for a readily-available source ofenergy that is renewable and environment-friendly.APR uses temperatures much lower than those used inexisting thermochemical methods for biomass: ~500K asopposed to about 600K to 1100K for pyrolysis andgasification. The reaction occurs in aqueous phase inthe presence of a reforming metal catalyst that cancatalyze both reforming and water-gas shiftreactions. To date, known APR studies dealt only withapplying this technology to oxygenated compounds thatwere used to mimic biomass. However, it is consideredthat application of APR to real biomass is needed togauge whether this technology can be considered aviable approach for hydrogen production.