Sorption-enhanced ethanol steam reforming process in a fixed-bed reactor

Abstract

Sorption-enhanced ethanol steam reforming is an alternative to nonrenewable sources to produce high purity hydrogen by simplifying the purification train required to obtain cell grade hydrogen. In this work, NiMgAl hydrotalcite was used as a catalyst precursor and CaO as a sorbent. The catalyst-sorbent configuration in the fixed-bed reactor, the effect of the sorbent/catalyst mass ratio, and the reaction temperature were the focus of our study. It was found that the well-mixed catalyst and sorbent configuration resulted in the highest hydrogen purity in the prebreakthrough period and the lowest CO concentration. Besides, it was possible to produce high purity hydrogen (>95%) at 723 K with a hydrogen yield equal to that obtained at 873 K without sorbent. Finally, it was corroborated that after 20 reaction/regeneration cycles the CO concentration was still lower than that obtained at the WGS reactor exit.