Hydrogen generation from CO2 reforming of biomass-derived methanol on Ni/SiO2 catalyst

Abstract

CO2 reforming of methanol for producing hydrogen was experimentally carried out in a fixed-bed reactor on 10%Ni/SiO2. The 10%Ni/SiO2 was completely reduced during H2 activation and it had the surface area of 240.5 m2/g. As CO2 reforming of methanol has an endothermic nature, the substantial improvement in methanol conversion from 52 to 99% was evident with rising temperature from 450 to 550 °C, respectively. H2/CO ratios varying within 1.65–1.76 were evidenced at different reaction temperatures. These H2/CO ratios are preferred as feedstocks for long-chain hydrocarbons generation in Fischer–Tropsch production. Ni0 metallic phase was maintained during CO2 reforming of methanol and hence catalytic activity was stable within 8 h on-stream. Although amorphous and graphitic species were unavoidably yielded on catalyst surface, catalytic deterioration in CO2 reforming of methanol was not observed due to the concomitant CO2 gasification of surface carbonaceous species during reaction.