Partial oxidation of ethanol in a membrane reactor for high purity hydrogen production

✍ Scribed by A. Iulianelli; S. Liguori; V. Calabrò; P. Pinacci; A. Basile

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 603 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0360-3199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.07.120

✦ Synopsis

Partial oxidation of ethanol was performed in a dense PdeAg membrane reactor over Rh/Al 2 O 3 catalyst in order to produce a pure or, at least, CO x -free hydrogen stream for supplying a PEM fuel cell. The membrane reactor performances have been evaluated in terms of ethanol conversion, hydrogen yield, CO x -free hydrogen recovery and gas selectivity working at 450 C, GHSV w 1300 h À1 , O 2 :C 2 H 5 OH feed molar ratio varying between 0.33:1 and 0.62:1 and in a reaction pressure range from 1.0 to 3.0 bar. As a result, complete ethanol conversion was achieved in all the experimental tests. A small amount of C 2 H 4 and C 2 H 4 O formation was observed during reaction. At low pressure and feed molar ratio, H 2 and CO are mainly produced, while at stronger operating conditions CH 4 , CO 2 and H 2 O are prevalent compounds.

However, in all the experimental tests no carbon formation was detected. As best results of this work, complete ethanol conversion and more than 40.0% CO x -free hydrogen recovery were achieved. Furthermore, at 450 C, ambient pressure and stoichiometric feed molar ratio, partial oxidation of ethanol was performed in the PdeAg membrane reactor as a case study without using any catalyst. In this case, PdeAg membrane acts as a catalyst on the reaction. As a result, an ethanol conversion around 85% was reached, while low CO x -free hydrogen recovery and carbon formation was the main drawback.