Hydrogen production from glycerol using sorption enhanced chemical looping steam reforming with multifunctional pellet catalyst

Abstract

In this study, the synthesis of a pellet-scale material for hydrogen (H₂) production from glycerol via the Sorption Enhanced Chemical Looping Steam Reforming (SE-CL-SGR) process was investigated. The research focuses on material synthesis, performance enhancement, and the economic and environmental advantages of the developed material. Among the synthesis methods compared, the Stepwise Calcination process demonstrated the best performance, producing structurally stable and mechanically robust pellets. The optimal CaO/support mass ratio for the Ni-supported material (15Ni(70Ca.30Support)) was found to achieve 90% v/v H₂ purity with a pre-breakthrough time of approximately 75 minutes. Rare-earth metal oxides (CeO₂, La₂O₃) addition also improved mechanical strength and coke prevention. Specifically, La-modified material (La5Ni30Ca70(70Ca.30S)) reduced the coke deposition by 43 % and maintained a stable H₂ production rate of near 95% v/v on 5 cycles. Economically, the integrated catalyst-sorbent functionality of 5La-15Ni(70Ca.30S) improved system operations, reducing operational complexity and costs despite an initial material cost of approximately $18.02 per pound. Long-term benefits include reduced maintenance requirements, increased process efficiency, and higher environmental sustainability. Scaling up production aims to increase both cost effectiveness and industrial usability. These findings highlight the variety of this multifunctional material's capacity to generate high-purity hydrogen, which benefits renewable energy applications and commercial industrial processes.