Hydrogen production by catalytic steam reforming of model compounds of biomass fast pyrolysis oil

A Ni/MgO-La₂O₃-Al₂O₃ catalyst with Ni as active component, Al₂O₃ as support, MgO and La₂O₃ as additives was prepared and its catalytic activity was evaluated in the process of hydrogen production from catalytic steam reforming of bio-oil. In the catalytic evaluation, some typical components present in bio-oil such as acetic acid, butanol, furfural, cyclopentanone and m-cresol were mixed following a certain proportion as model compounds. Reaction parameters like temperature, steam to carbon molar ratio and liquid hourly space velocity were studied with hydrogen yield as index. The optimal reaction conditions were obtained as follows: temperature 750-850 °C, steam to carbon molar ratio 5-9, liquid hourly space velocity 1.5-2.5 h^-1. The maximum hydrogen yield was 88.14 %. The carbon deposits were formed on the catalyst surface but its content decreased as reaction temperature increased in the bio-oil steam reforming process.