Ospinal-Jiménez, Mónica

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    Hydrogen production study using autothermal reforming of biodiesel and other hydrocarbons for fuel cell applications
    (2006) Ospinal-Jiménez, Mónica; Colucci-Ríos, José; College of Engineering; Briano, Julio; Portnoy, Arturo; Department of Chemical Engineering; Quintana, Julio
    During the last few years concerns with distribution, supply and cost of conventional liquid fuels increased considerably. Several developed countries are seriously considering using hydrogen (no fossil combustible) as an automotive energy source as part of the global effort to preserve the environment. An alternative methodology to provide renewable source energy in the transportation sector is Autothermal Reforming (ATR) in combination with fuel cell technologies. Presently, the department of Chemical Engineering of the University of Puerto Rico (UPRM) in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) works in the development of a reforming catalyst characterization program. The purpose of this research is to study the viability of using a new catalyst to convert Biodiesel, Glycerin and Methanol to a hydrogen rich product gas and compare their production potential, identify the conditions for the accumulation of coke and determine the influence of reactor temperature and water to carbon and oxygen to carbon ratios. A Basket Stirred Tank Reactor (BSTR) and Plug Flow Reactor (PFR) with Pt and Rh-based catalysts synthesized at ANL were used. Hydrogen can be produced from vegetables oils and glycerol by catalytic ATR using Pt-based catalyst. Exit gas concentrations of 45%, 26% and 20% H2 for methanol, glycerol and biodiesel respectively were obtained. The use of catalyst and increases in reactor temperatures favors H2 production for ATR of methanol and biodiesel. In glycerol experiments without catalyst, it was observed that at 0.4 O2/C and 0.5 O2/C and 900 °F the highest hydrogen concentration was obtained. Also, H2 was obtained from biodiesel at temperatures higher than 950°F. All biodiesel and glycerol experiments performed had shown coke formation. In ATR methanol, coke formation was not detected in the fittings. In addition, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used for surfaces analysis on Pt-based catalysts. Soot deposition on catalyst surface was detected in all samples analyzed. Also, Rh-based catalysts did not increase hydrogen production. Heavy solvents were detected below 4500 ppm in the liquid organic waste.