Membrane reactors for steam reforming of glycerol and acetic acid to produce hydrogen

Nowadays, it is well known that hydrogen can be considered as a strategic energy carrier for the future. Therefore, both industrial companies and the scientific community are devoted to analyze the production of hydrogen in a more technically, environmentally and economically attractive way, based on the exploitation of bio-feedstocks. In this contest, steam reforming process and the exploitation of renewable sources are currently the most favorable and alternative route for hydrogen production. In particular, glycerol and acetic acid as a bio-derived source are becoming attracting candidates for producing hydrogen through reforming reactions in both conventional and membrane reactors. This chapter highlights the recent findings on the aforementioned reactions, paying particular attention to the role of catalyst utilization and to the potentiality of membrane reactor technology over the conventional systems.