Feasibility of hydrogen production from steam reforming of biodiesel (FAME) feedstock on Ni-supported catalysts

The catalytic steam reforming of biodiesel was examined over Ni-alumina and Ni-ceria-zirconia catalysts at atmospheric pressure. Effects of temperatures of biodiesel preheating/ vapourising (190-365 °C) and reforming (600-800 °C), molar steam to carbon ratio (S/C=2-3), , and residence time in the reformer, represented by the weight hourly space velocity ‘WHSV’ of around 3 were examined for 2h. Ni supported on calcium aluminate and on Ceria-zirconia supports achieved steady state hydrogen product stream within 90% of the equilibrium yields, although 4% and 1% of the carbon feed had deposited on the catalysts, respectively, during the combined conditions of start-up and steady state. Addition of dopants to ceria-zirconia supported catalyst decreased the performance of the catalyst. Increase in S/C ratio had the expected positive effects of higher H2 yield and lower carbon deposition.