Acetic acid steam reforming in a Pd Ag membrane reactor: the effect of the catalytic bed pattern

In this experimental work, the acetic acid steam reforming reaction for producing pure hydrogen was studied in a Pd-Ag dense membrane reactor (MR). Two kinds of catalytic bed patterns have been considered: in the first pattern a Ni-based commercial catalyst has been packed inside the membrane lumen while, in the second one both a Ru-based and a Ni-based commercial catalysts have been packed together in the membrane lumen. The experimental tests have been performed in the temperature range 400-450 oC and in the pressure range 1.5-2.5 bar. The results are reported in terms of acetic acid conversion, hydrogen recovery and products selectivities. It has been found that the MR is able to give a rather high acetic acid conversion with a 30-35% hydrogen recovery. Moreover, the second catalytic bed pattern is able to increase the hydrogen production and to decrease the methane production with respect to the first pattern.