Sorption-enhanced steam reforming of ethanol for hydrogen production

Abstract

In last years, sorption-enhanced steam reforming of ethanol (SESRE) has become an inter-esting alternative for the industry, since it offers high H2 purity with a simpler and smaller system. In this study CaO derived materials were synthesized to im-prove multicyclic CO2 sorption-desorption stability. A dispersant and inert phase (Ca12All4O33) was incor-porated into CaO structure. The effects of CaO:Ca12Al14O33 ratio on the characteristics of the new absorbents and on their performance in sorp-tion-enhanced steam reforming of ethanol were ana-lyzed. The results obtained indicate that the absor-bent 85% CaO-15% Ca12All4O33 had significantly improved cyclic reaction stability. Additionally, it was proved that with this adsorbent CO purity on wet ba-sis was lower than 2 %, making it possible to attain in only one reaction stage the CO purity obtained after de WGS reactor.