Production of hydrogen from biomass by catalytic steam reforming of fast pyrolysis oil

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/305621· OSTI ID:305621

Czernik, S.; Wang, D.; Chornet, E. ^[1]

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1. National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States). Center for Renewable Chemical Technologies and Materials

Hydrogen is the prototype of the environmentally cleanest fuel of interest for power generation using fuel cells and for transportation. The thermochemical conversion of biomass to hydrogen can be carried out through two distinct strategies: (a) gasification followed by water-gas shift conversion, and (b) catalytic steam reforming of specific fractions derived from fast pyrolysis and aqueous/steam processes of biomass. This paper presents the latter route that begins with fast pyrolysis of biomass to produce bio-oil. This oil (as a whole or its selected fractions) can be converted to hydrogen via catalytic steam reforming followed by a water-gas shift conversion step. Such a process has been demonstrated at the bench scale using model compounds, poplar oil aqueous fraction, and the whole pyrolysis oil with commercial Ni-based steam reforming catalysts. Hydrogen yields as high as 85% have been obtained. Catalyst initial activity can be recovered through regeneration cycles by steam or CO{sub 2} gasification of carbonaceous deposits.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
• OSTI ID: 305621
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP--570-25315-Vol.2; CONF-980440--Vol.2; ON: DE98007508
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
09 BIOMASS FUELS
CATALYSTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLASH HEATING
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
POPLARS
PYROLYTIC OILS
REGENERATION
STEAM REFORMER PROCESSES