Characterizing the Reducing Properties of Biofuels in Activating Metal Catalysts of Refinery Processes

Refinery-used metallic catalysts are supplied in oxide forms, meaning reduction is necessary for them to activate. Using glucose solution and a molar steam-to-carbon ratio of six (S/C = 6), NiO/Al2O3 catalysts are reduced at temperatures ranging from 500–750 °C. Steam reforming in a downflow bed reactor comes next. Through the use of XRD, TGA-FTIR, and SEM examination, the behavior of the reacted catalyst was examined. It was found that it is possible to reduce the catalyst at temperatures as low as 550 °C, but below 650 °C, the reacted catalysts become particle- and agglomerate-like. The agglomerated sample has much more carbon than the particle form, according to TGA-FTIR measurements. Agglomeration has a detrimental effect on the efficiency of steam reforming. SEM reveals that carbon is present in the agglomerated sample as big, flat plates of around 100 μ m, and additionally deposited as short debris on the particle sample’s surface. However, no agglomeration is observed at temperatures higher than 650 °C. Between 650 and 700 °C, there was a significant rise in the conversion of glucose and H2 production due to the elimination of agglomeration catalysts. Around 61% of the H2 is pure at 700 °C, and the H2 production is 10.2%, or 12.1% of the equilibrium value, while the conversions of water and glucose are 10% and 97%, respectively.