Ir-Based Bimetallic Catalysts for Hydrogen Production through Glycerol Aqueous-Phase Reforming

Abstract

Iridium, Iridium-Nickel and Iridium-Copper catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and evaluated in the aqueous-phase reforming of glycerol using La2O3 or CeO2 as supports. The catalysts were characterized by N2 physisorption, XRD, H2-TPR, XPS, and EDS. The reactions were carried out in a fixed bed reactor feeding a solution of glycerol (10 wt %) in water, at 270 °C and 58 bar. All IrNi catalysts showed higher activity than Ir and IrCu, and in general, La2O3 catalysts showed a better performance when compared to CeO2 catalysts. The highest hydrogen production yield was reached by bimetallic IrNi catalysts with over 250 µmol min−1 gcat−1 for La2O3 and 150 µmol min−1 gcat−1 for CeO2.