Steam Reforming, preferential oxidation, and autothermal reforming of ethanol for hydrogen production in membrane reactors

Nowadays, hydrogen has gained a considerable attention as the most viable energy carrier for numerous applications and, particularly, for PEMFCs supplying. In particular, many scientific studies involve in the production of hydrogen in more environmentally friendly processes, based on the exploitation of bio-sources. Therefore, the hydrogen generation has made attractive the bio-alcohols and, among them, ethanol and methanol - as bio-derived and renewable sources - constitute attracting candidates for producing hydrogen through reforming reactions in both conventional and membrane reactors. This chapter deals with the recent findings on both ethanol, methanol and biogas reforming reactions, paying attention on the utilization and the potentiality of the membrane reactors technology as well as its advantages over the conventional reactors technology. Furthermore, a short overview from the specialized literature on the most representative scientific findings concerning ethanol, methanol and biogas reforming processes performed in membrane reactors is also given and discussed.