Statistical optimization of hydrogen production from bio-methanol steam reforming over Ni-Cu/Al2O3 catalysts. (1st January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chih, Yi-Kai; Chen, Wei-Hsin; You, Siming; Hsu, Chun-Han; Lin, Hong-Ping; Raza Naqvi, Salman; Ashokkumar, Veeramuthu
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 331:Part 1(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Subjects: Hydrogen production -- Methanol steam reforming (MSR) -- Non-noble metal -- Cu-based catalyst -- Taguchi method and analysis of variance (ANOVA) -- Optimization and statistics; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.125691
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Bio-methanol is employed as a feedstock for H2 produciton from bio-methanol steam reforming. Cu-Ni / aluminate composites without organic template is used as catalysts to produces H2 . ANOVA analysis reveals that temperature is the primary factor affecting H2 productivity. The catalysts achieve 100% bio-methanoal conversion and 2.93 mol / mol CH3 OH H2 yield. Long-term tests confirm the catalysts' stability and effectivenes as a commercial one. Abstract: Hydrogen has emerged its importance for decarbonization to approach net-zero emissions in 2050. This study aims to develop three highly-porous Ni-Cu/Al2 O3 catalysts (Ni-to-Cu weight ratio = 10 %, 20 %, and 30 %) for hydrogen production from the steam reforming of "Green" methanol (or bio-methanol). The prepared catalysts require no organic templates, thereby efficiently reducing unnecessary costs. With Taguchi orthogonal array design and analysis of variance (ANOVA), the impacts of selected operating factors on hydrogen productivity under ultrasonic sprays are investigated. The results reveal that the carrier gas flow rate is the most influential factor in H2 yield at the steam-to-methanol molar ratio (S/C) of 1.5, whereas the temperature is the most impactful factor at S/C = 2.0. The regression between the Taguchi effect value and the ANOVA F value develops a strong linear relationship. The optimal experimental conditions of Ni-Cu(30 %)/Al2 O3, reaction temperature of 300 °C, N2 flow rate of 1, 000 mL⋅min −1, and S/C = 2.0, achieve 100 % methanol conversion, 39.74 vol% H2 concentration in the product gas, and 2.93 mol⋅(mol CH3 OH) -1 H2 yield. Thes data also show superior performance compared to those in the literature. In long-term stability tests, the prepared catalysts also exhibit high stability and effectiveness commensurate with commercialized Cu-based catalysts.