Hydrogen Production from Ethanol using CO₂ Absorption Ceramics

Abstract

To develop a non-equilibrium reactor for Fuel Cell (FC), the steam reforming of ethanol in the presence of the CO₂ absorption ceramics was carried out at the atmospheric pressure between 450°C and 650°C using a plug flow reactor, and a commercially available reforming catalyst was used. The CO₂ absorption ceramics consisted of lithium silicate powder, which was granulated and coated with alumina coarse particles. Reaction products were analyzed by gas chromatography, and the effect of the CO₂ absorption ceramics for the hydrogen selectivity was estimated. It was concluded that the steam reforming ethanol in the presence of the CO₂ absorption ceramics has high potential for a non-equilibrium reactor. The hydrogen selectivity was enhanced in the presence of the CO₂ absorption ceramics. Especially at a temperature of 550°C, the hydrogen selectivity in the presence of the CO₂ absorption ceramics was 1.6 times as high as that in the absence of the CO₂ absorption ceramics. And the CO₂ absorption ceramics shows neither catalytic poison for steam reforming reaction nor degradation under steam reforming conditions.