Hydrogen production by reforming of bio-alcohols

The challenge of H2 as the energy carrier of the future has driven the attention towards novel reforming processes, such as steam reforming, auto-thermal reforming or aqueous-phase reforming of bio-alcohols, considering thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. Notwithstanding the efforts addressed in the last decade to the development of efficient catalytic systems, coke formation along with metal sintering significantly limit catalyst lifetime and stability, representing the main issues to be overcome. The use of multi-metallic systems under suitable operating conditions (temperature, pressure, space velocity, S/C and/or O/C ratios, reactor configuration, ...) can give a potential solution to obtain hydrogen with high yield.