Long-Time Behavior of the Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Glycerol in an Autothermal Reactor

We performed a long-term study of the autothermal reforming of glycerol. Liquid glycerol and water were introduced into a quartz reactor at room temperature and mixed with air in a nebulizer. The aerosol reacted to form H2, H2O, CO, and CO2 over a bed of spherical Rh−Ce/CeO2/Al2O3 particles, with minor production of C2+ species. Catalyst deactivation was exhibited by a decrease in the production of H2 and CO2 and increases in CO and temperature over 450 h. The product changes suggest reduction in the water−gas shift reaction, which is typically promoted by Ce. SEM analysis indicated sintering of the catalyst due to high reaction temperatures, and EDS showed inorganic deposits on the walls of the quartz reactor and on the catalyst spheres. Etching of the quartz reactor shell was also observed.