Hydrogen Production from Bioethanol: Behavior of a Carbon Oxide Preferential Oxidation Catalyst

Hydrogen is recognized as a promising green energy source, particularly when used to feed a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Here, hydrogen was obtained by bioethanol steam reforming with CO and CO2 as primary sub products. Since the cell anode is extremely sensitive to poisoning with CO, water-gas shift (WGS) and carbon oxide preferential oxidation (COPROX) reactors were employed for hydrogen purification. Catalysts prepared by our lab were tested at pilot plant scale in both the reformer and COPROX unit, where different active phase distributions, stoichiometric excess of air, and reaction temperatures were tested. The use of two different COPROX units with intermediate air injection was also considered. The as-prepared catalysts showed good stability and performance.