Developing nano carbon/metal catalysts for hydrogen production from biomass by using aqueous phase reforming technique

The present study was designed to develop active catalysts for use in Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) of biomass hydrolysates to produce hydrogen gas. Active mono and multiple-metalic reforming catalysts made of nanometals (Pt,Ni,Ru,Sn) doped by using supercritical carbon dioxide deposition and wetnesss impregnation techniques on various supports (activated carbon, titanium dioxide, alumina, single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, tungsten oxide-zirconium oxide, superdarco carbon, iron oxide and porous carbon) have been developed in this study. The activity and H2(g) selectivity of these catalysts in aqueous phase reforming of wheat straw hydrolysate and glucose solution has been investigated. The amount of metal on supports were determined by inductively coupled plasma technique (ICP), the structural characterization of catalysts were investigated by using X-Ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N2 adsorption/desorption technique. After hydrolysis of wheat straw in subcritical water, the gasification of hydrolysate solution carried out in a bench reactor at 250°C. All gaseous products were analyzed by gas chromatography. The highest activity and H2(g) selectivity was obtained when carbon supported Pt catalysts prepared by using supercritical deposition technique were used in gasification of biomass hydrolysate. The gas mixture produced reached up 12.0 ml in absence of catalyst while it varied between 16.5-99.0 ml in presence of a catalyst that composed of H2, CO, CO2 and CH4 gases