Hydrogen production by aqueous-phase reforming of glycerol on supported noble metal catalysts

Hydrogen produced from renewable feedstocks, e.g., crude glycerol, which is the main by-product formed during bio-diesel production, will develop into an attractive alternative energy source in the near future. A low temperature process is being developed using noble metal catalysts supported on gamma alumina. The overall catalytic activity of the catalysts Pt/Al₂O₃, Pd/Al₂O₃, Ni/Al₂O₃, Ru/Al₂O₃, and Rh/Al₂O₃ was studied. H₂ selectivity of > 90% together with the low alkane selectivity and the good high long term stability indicated that Pt and Pd supported on gamma alumina may be promising supported catalysts for the aqueous phase reforming process. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the DGMK/SCI-Conference "Synthesis Gas Chemistry" (Dresden, Germany 10/4-6/2006).