Inherent CO₂ Capture and H₂ Production Enhancement in a New Glycerol Steam Reformer Coupled with Chemical Looping Combustion

Abstract

As far as biodiesel economy and hydrogen production are concerned, steam reforming of glycerol, which is the main byproduct of the biodiesel plants, is an appealing policy. Despite hydrogen abundant application in various fields, the total energy efficiency of its production process is comparatively unpleasant. Thus, an upgrading of the outdated procedure is the vital key for consideration of hydrogen as the future fuel. In the current study, a new reactor configuration that integrates both chemical looping combustion (CLC) system and glycerol steam reforming (GSR) process is introduced and compared with the conventional concept; therefore, the electric furnace, the energy-supplier of the conventional reactor, is removed. One of the most substantial aspects that should be noted in the CLC technologies is the operation of oxygen carriers. The applied oxygen carrier in the present CLC system is the NiO18-αAl 2 O 3 particles. This type of oxygen carrier has revealed great reactivity and the ability to operate suitably in high temperatures. The proposed model displays that the conversion of glycerol and yield of hydrogen are elevated by 32.88% and 1.95, compared with those of its conventional system, respectively. In conclusion, the performance of the proposed configuration was analyzed by changing the inlet temperature of both CLC and GSR processes, as well as inlet pressure and flow rate of the steam reforming process.

Recent Insights into the Production of Syngas and Hydrogen Using Chemical Looping-Steam Reforming (CL-SR)

“…In CL-SR of glycerol on NiO/Alumina, a steam to carbon ratio of 3 produces a maximum H 2 selectivity of 88% at 550 °C. The 1:3 OC/sorbent ratio aids in improving catalytic activity as well as H 2 purity . Jiang et al synthesized and employed a Ni-based montmorillonite-Al mesoporous oxygen carrier for the first time in CL-SR.…”

Glycerol waste to value added products and its potential applications

“…However, the price of pure glycerol is between 0.22 and 0.37£/ Lb. Approximate crude glycerol production will reach 50 billion liters in 2021 [ 30 ].…”

Light-Driven Hydrogen Production from Steam Methane Reforming via Bimetallic PdNi Catalysts Derived from Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets

“…With the increasing potential reserves proven, methane (CH 4 ) conversion and utilization have gradually been given great attention to lab research and industrial applications. − However, the efficient activation of CH 4 remains a great challenge as a result of the high bond energy (439 kJ mol –1 ) and low polarizability of C–H bonds. Nowadays, the main industrial utilization of CH 4 is for hydrogen production, including high-temperature steam methane reforming at 700–1000 °C (SMR, CH 4 + H 2 O → 3H 2 + CO; Δ H 298 K = +206 kJ mol –1 ) and the subsequent low-temperature water–gas shift reaction below 300 °C (CO + H 2 O → H 2 + CO 2 ; Δ H 298 K = −41 kJ mol –1 ). , Although low-temperature steam reforming technologies based on alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and glycerol) have been reported, − a vast majority of current industrial hydrogen is still produced through the high-temperature SMR route as a result of the abundant reserves of methane. , High reaction temperatures will lead to massive energy inputs and carbon-deposition-induced deactivation through side reactions. − The development of advanced SMR driven by sustainable energy inputs at mild conditions has become a current research hotspot.…”