591
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65017-9_17
Steam Reforming of Methanol, Ethanol
and Glycerol over Catalysts
with Mesoporous Supports:
A Comparative Study
S. Bepari, R. Abrokwah, V. Deshmane, and D. Kuila
Abstract Hydrogen generation via steam reforming of alcohols (SRA) has gained
tremendous attention among green energy industries, research scientists and government policy makers. A variety of mesoporous heterogeneous catalysts used to
produce hydrogen from alcohols like methanol (SRM), ethanol (SRE) and glycerol
(SRG) are discussed. Siliceous mesoporous supports, e.g. SBA-15, MCM-41,
MCM-48 and KIT-6, have proven to be substantially thermally stable compared to
metal oxide supports such as TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 and CeO 2 . While Cu-based catalysts are
commonly used for SRM, Ni- and Co-based catalysts are preferred for SRE and
SRG reactions. Addition of promoters like group 1 and 2 metals to these monometallic catalysts significantly improves reducibility of the metal oxides as well as the
basicity of the catalysts that minimize deactivation of catalysts by coking. Synergistic
effects of bimetallic catalysts such as Cu-Ni, Pd-Ni and Ni-Co to increase hydrogen
selectivity and long-term stability of the catalysts are discussed. Hydrogen selectivity and feed conversion of 100% can be attained depending on the reaction conditions like temperature, feed flow rate, type of catalyst, catalyst loading and alcohol/
water molar ratio.
Keywords Mesoporous · N 2 adsorption-desorption · Hydrogen · Steam reforming
S. Bepari · R. Abrokwah · V. Deshmane
Department of Chemistry, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina
A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
D. Kuila (*)
Department of Chemistry, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina
A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
Department of Nanoengineering, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North
Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
e-mail: dkuila@ncat.edu
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65017-9_17
Steam Reforming of Methanol, Ethanol
and Glycerol over Catalysts
with Mesoporous Supports:
A Comparative Study
S. Bepari, R. Abrokwah, V. Deshmane, and D. Kuila
Abstract Hydrogen generation via steam reforming of alcohols (SRA) has gained
tremendous attention among green energy industries, research scientists and government policy makers. A variety of mesoporous heterogeneous catalysts used to
produce hydrogen from alcohols like methanol (SRM), ethanol (SRE) and glycerol
(SRG) are discussed. Siliceous mesoporous supports, e.g. SBA-15, MCM-41,
MCM-48 and KIT-6, have proven to be substantially thermally stable compared to
metal oxide supports such as TiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 and CeO 2 . While Cu-based catalysts are
commonly used for SRM, Ni- and Co-based catalysts are preferred for SRE and
SRG reactions. Addition of promoters like group 1 and 2 metals to these monometallic catalysts significantly improves reducibility of the metal oxides as well as the
basicity of the catalysts that minimize deactivation of catalysts by coking. Synergistic
effects of bimetallic catalysts such as Cu-Ni, Pd-Ni and Ni-Co to increase hydrogen
selectivity and long-term stability of the catalysts are discussed. Hydrogen selectivity and feed conversion of 100% can be attained depending on the reaction conditions like temperature, feed flow rate, type of catalyst, catalyst loading and alcohol/
water molar ratio.
Keywords Mesoporous · N 2 adsorption-desorption · Hydrogen · Steam reforming
S. Bepari · R. Abrokwah · V. Deshmane
Department of Chemistry, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina
A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
D. Kuila (*)
Department of Chemistry, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina
A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
Department of Nanoengineering, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North
Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
e-mail: dkuila@ncat.edu