Hydrogen from biomass-production by steam reforming of biomass pyrolysis oil

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Catalysis Today

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2006.08.071· OSTI ID:1344747

CZERNIK, S.; EVANS, R.; FRENCH, R.

Thermo-conversion of biomass is one of the leading near-term options for renewable production of hydrogen and has the potential to provide a significant fraction of transportation fuel required in the future. We propose a two-step process that starts with fast pyrolysis of biomass, which generates high yields of a liquid product, bio-oil, followed by catalytic steam reforming of bio-oil to produce hydrogen. A major advantage of such a concept results from the fact that bio-oil is much easier and less expensive to transport than either biomass or hydrogen. Therefore, the processing of biomass and the production of hydrogen can be performed at separate locations, optimized with respect to feedstock supply and to hydrogen distribution infrastructure. This approach makes the process very well suited for both centralized and distributed hydrogen production. This work demonstrates reforming of bio-oil in a bench-scale fluidized bed system and provides hydrogen yields obtained using several commercial and custom-made catalysts.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1344747
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA--510-42608
• Journal Information: Catalysis Today, Journal Name: Catalysis Today Journal Issue: 3-4 Vol. 129; ISSN 0920-5861
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
09 BIOMASS FUELS
bio-oil
biomass
steam reforming